I love the Old Testament. It’s proof that the more things change, the more they stay the same (people are the same today as they were then), but it shows, also, how we should respond when we encounter the Holy God of the Universe. This morning, in particular, I was thinking of Isaiah, who gives us some prolific and visionary writing of who Messiah would be. In Isaiah 6, he enters the temple, only to find it to be bigger on the inside than it was on the outside, and, filling the temple is Almighty God sitting on His throne, surrounded by four Seraphim, who never cease crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the earth is filled with His glory!”
Isaiah was terrified! In fear and worship of God, he said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Notice that response: Fear, worship, confession, and admission of God’s holiness. This is the correct response to any encounter with God! Too many believers, though, want to treat God as a buddy, a wishing well, or a shelter to run to when they’ve messed up too much. He’s the King, the Lord of Hosts! We then see, and I think it is in line with 1 John 9 (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness), God sending the Seraphim to cleanse Isaiah of his unclean lips, and then, God asking “who shall go for Us,” to which Isaiah responds “Here I am, send me!”
Loved ones, we, too, should encounter Holy and Almighty God daily with fear, worship, confession and admission of God’s holiness. And then we should say, daily “Here I am, Lord, send me!” We have, after all, the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us, if we’ve been raised up with Christ! Each day is a new opportunity to worship and commune with Christ. Each day is a new opportunity to share His love and grace and mercy. So, respond to your daily encounters with God wisely. Seek Him first. Go and make disciples for Him.
Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Philippians 2:1-18
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
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