Someone once dryly commented that when some people hear the voice of God calling him or her to serve, they often say, in paraphrase of Isaiah, “Here am I! Send my friends!”
Maybe such an answer reveals that they never have truly felt loved and accepted. They have never sensed the extravagant wonder of God’s grace and had the privilege in response, of being used of God to bless others - the marvel of a call to serve. But that is what we are called to do.
Peter Marshall said, “Many Christians are like men dressed in diving suits designed for many fathoms deep, marching bravely forth to pull plugs from bathtubs.”
But Isaiah, responding to God's call, was sent immediately to serve on God’s behalf. God's word is, “Go.” Something great has happened to you, so go!
But - do not go if you have had no vision of God, if you have never heard his voice speaking to your heart, if you have never cried, “Woe is me! I am undone.”
Unless you have experienced God's cleansing and renewal you can’t really go. You will have nothing to say. You cannot help anyone by just commiserating with them. Instead, you must go, knowing you have what they need to hear, which God will speak into their hearts just as he has spoken it into yours.
It is when we have surrendered fully, that God’s Spirit will take us and fill us with strength and wisdom and grace to serve in a way that we cannot manufacture or sustain by yourselves.
Adapted from here
