Saturday March 12, 2022

Your vision must match your calling...

“I saw the Lord (in a vision) seated on a very high throne ; the lower edge of his garment filled the temple.” Isaiah 6.1

Before being called to fulfill specific missions, the heroes and leaders of the Old Testament benefited from a direct vision of God. He revealed himself to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3. 2-5), to Joshua shortly after the capture of Jericho (Joshua 3. 13-15), to Gideon through a sacrifice (Judges 6. 21- 23), to Isaiah through a spectacular vision of His glory (Isaiah 6.1), to Ezekiel, again through a vision (Ezekiel 1.1-3). Without these visions of divine glory and power, none of them could have fulfilled their mission. They all needed these visions to find the courage and determination to respond to God's call assured of the power at work within them, despite their inherent weaknesses. Faced with the contempt of King Ahab, the prophet Micaiah declares : “Hear therefore the word of the Eternal ! I saw the Eternal seated on his throne, and all the heavenly bodies standing at his right and at his left” (2 Chronicles 18:18). Before you take up the challenge and serve the Lord according to His will, you too will need to “see” God in all of His glory and power. When you have become aware of divine omnipotence and holiness, you will only be able to measure your own impotence to accomplish what He wants to entrust to you. Gideon exclaims : “Woe to me, Lord Eternal, for I have seen the angel of the Eternal face to face” (Judges 6:22). As for Isaiah, he exclaims : “Woe to me ! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the king, the Eternal, the ruler of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). God always responds with compassion and love to the humility of His servants. He declares to Gideon : “Peace be with you ! Do not be afraid ; you shall not die” (v. 23), He sends an angel to comfort the prophet and purify “his unclean lips” (v. 7). Be humble and He will uplift you, cleanse you, pour His peace into your heart, so that you can cry out : “Here am I, send me !” (Isaiah 6. 8).

Source (His Word for Today)