I have found, through trial and error that anytime my wife says “can I ask a favor?” I need to ask follow up questions before I agree to the unsaid favor. Initially I wouldn’t ask follow up questions, only delighting in an opportunity to serve my wife. I would come to find out the task could be something as simple as getting her a glass of water or as complicated as installing flooring in the front room.
After a while I learned that before blindly agreeing to whatever the forthcoming favor it may be, it is in my best interested to ask some qualifying questions to understand the scope of the favor beforehand. What is the favor she is asking for? Am I qualified, do I possess the necessary skills? I found that more often than not, I do not have the necessary skills and may need to obtain them.
Now this is sage worldly advice in how to handle requests from people. We need to count the cost before we commit to a task so we can ensure we are able to complete it and meet the expectation of the people asking for the help.
This applies to our business and personal lives, but not with God. In fact, we need to eliminate this line of thinking when the Lord asks something of us.
Isaiah 6:1 – 8
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said,
“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”
8 Then 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!”
Isaiah found himself in the throne room of God. The prophet knew he was sinful and not qualified to be in the presence of God.
God had a plan for that! Isaiah’s lips touched the burning coal and God thereby removes Isaiah’s iniquity and his sin is forgiven. God has solved His qualification of Isaiah so that his servant can be in the presence of God.
God, having cleansed Isaiah of his sin, presents a task: “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah does not ask God to describe the task or confirm his qualifications, but responds simply “Here I am! Send me!” No questions of who, what, why, when or how!
God could send him anywhere and ask him to do anything, it seems that Isaiah was ready to serve the Lord. Isaiah was a prophet of God with a deep understanding and commitment to Jesus.
For those with an intimate relationship with Jesus, a deep understanding of Him, God presents a path to accept the call to service, even if unaware of the circumstances of the calling.
What about when we can see that the cost is higher than expected? No issue. Isaiah’s deep relationship with God served him well as he responded to God’s call.
Isaiah was fully committed, regardless of the cost. We would do well to emulate him. What is God calling you to do? Are you available, regardless of the cost? If not, how do you become available?
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