“Here am I! Send me.”

“Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth isfull of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because 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 live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

After Isaiah’s vision in the Temple, we get his response. Isaiah responds to this vision by saying, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”

Think about that: Isaiah’s first response to this incredible vision that he has is to confess that he is not worthy. He is not worthy to be in the presence of God. He is not worthy to receive this vision. He is a sinner. And he is filled with fear.

And that should always be our first response when we enter the Lord’s house to worship. To recognize that we are not worthy to be in the presence of the Lord. It is why we begin our worship every Sunday by confessing our sin, our unworthiness to be here.

But Isaiah’s vision doesn’t end there. After he confesses his sin, his unworthiness, God forgives him his sin, and makes him worthy. Just as God forgives our sin at the start of every day when we ask for forgivness. Thankfully, not with a live coal touching our mouth! Isaiah is forgiven. And then, and only then, Isaiah is ready to respond to this vision, to this time of adoration and worship. And the same is true for us.

So, then, finally, after Isaiah is humbled and encouraged by what a small part humanity plays in God’s universe, and after Isaiah has confessed his sin and unworthiness, and after God has forgiven him and declared him worthy, then, and only then, does God ask the question that, in one way or another, God asks us all: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

That is God’s question to all who would worship God. To all who worship and desire to serve our Lord, our almighty God asks this same question: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Because this world really does need our help. It is not a perfect place. It needs people who love God and love God’s creation too. And our world needs to be reminded of God’s overwhelming love for all of God’s creation.

And with God’s help, we can do that. Because God does have a mission for YOU, Just as God once did for Isaiah, and for so many who have come before us. And as long as we remember that it is God’s mission, not ours, then we have an important part to play in this mission. And it is our privilege, our blessing, and our responsibility, to do just that.

The Great Commission

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Mt 28:18–20

Why Evangelize?

1A. Because of the command of Christ:

Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15 (cf. John 14:15).

2A. Because of the condition of all men:

Matthew 9:36–38; 13:49–50; II Thessalonians 1:7–10; I Peter 4:17–18; Jude 23; Revelation 20:15.

3A. Because of the outcomes of the gospel:

Matthew 7:13; 14:49–50 ; II Thessalonians 1:7–10; I Peter 4:17–18; Jude 23; Revelation 20:15.

4A. Because of the coming of Christ:

I Corinthians 15:58; II Corinthians 5:10–11; I Thessalonians 2:19–20.

5A. Because of the constraint of love:

II Corinthians 5:14 (cf. Paul’s example in Romans 9:1–3; 10–1).

6A. Because of the character of the gospel: It is the only thing that works!

Acts 4:12; Romans 1:14–16

7A. Because of the commitment of the message to us:

I Corinthians 9:16–23; II Corinthians 5:18–20; I Thessalonians 2:4–8; I Timothy 1:11–16.

2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

3 Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.[1]

Psalm 96:2–3

[1] The New King James Version (Ps 96:2–3). (1982). Thomas Nelson.