Theme for this week: “It’s Your Time”
March 9, 2022 (Wednesday)
Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, was the cousin of Uzziah the king of Judah. Uzziah reigned as king for 52 years, but became proud and took over the priest’s job, offering incense upon God’s altar. God struck him down with leprosy and then he lived by himself, existing apart from everyone, finally dying after 12 years. In he meantime, his son became the king. Isaiah then had a vision. He saw God as holy and fearsome, surrounded by heavenly beings amidst smoke that hid God from view. But Isaiah, in his vision, saw God and became aware of his own shortcomings and sins. Yet God’s voice was heard, asking, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah, humbly replied, “Here am I; send me.”
Isaiah acknowledged his sin and unworthiness, yet he was of royal blood. Yet, he considered answering God’s call to service greater than being a cousin of the king. God honored him by choosing him to be a servant. He was a prophet, and delivered messages from God to a disobedient people.
The king, Uzziah, became proud and suffered; Isaiah, the cousin, remained humble ever thankful for the privilege of serving God.
The prophet, Isaiah, had a greater task than the king: to deliver messages from God. This he did faithfully, and many of his words are recorded for us in the Bible. His, “thus saith the Lord” was a greater statement than that of Uzziah, “I am the king.”
The Lord calls all of us to serve Him. We can have no greater calling in life than the call to God’s service. And how may we serve Him? There is no limit to our opportunities for Christian service if we take seriously God’s commandment to love Him and to express that love by loving others. Please read carefully the words of the hymn, “Here Am I, Send Me,” below, and let those words guide you as you serve the Lord.
HERE AM I, SEND ME
Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting;
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calls us,
rich reward He offers free;
who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?
If you cannot cross the ocean,
and the distant lands explore,
you can find the lost around you,
you can help them at your door.
If you cannot give your thousands,
you can give the widow’s mite;
what you truly give for Jesus,
will be precious in His sight.
If you cannot be the watchman
standing high on Zion’s wall,
pointing out the path to heaven,
off’ring life and peace to all,
with your pray’rs and with your bounties
you can do what heav’n demands;
you can be like faithful Aaron
holding up the prophet’s hands.
Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
while the lost of earth are dying,
and the Master calls for you:
take the task He gives you gladly;
let His work your pleasure be;
answer quickly when He calls you,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”
IT’S TIME FOR YOU
Monday-It’s Time For You To Be Saved.
2 Corinthians 6:2 “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Tuesday-It’s Time for You to Find Your Purpose
Jeremiah 29:11 “I have plans for you”
Wednesday-It’s Time for You to Serve The Lord
John 9:4 “Night is coming, when no one can work.
Thursday-It’s Time for You to Surrender to The Lord
Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hands
Friday-It’s Time for You to Wake Up
Romans 13:11 “The hour has already come for you to wake up”