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RE Verse reading–Isaiah 6 (day four)  “Then the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?’. . .  And I said, ‘Here am I.  Send me!’ ” (vs 8)  It is the sure sign that the human heart has been softened by the Spirit.  We volunteer.  Our wills bend to His.  We desire to do His will.  Having seen God and having been convicted/cleansed of sin, Isaiah takes the next step.  He volunteers for service.  Paul asks the same question. (Acts 22:10)  Jesus always had this characteristic. (John 4:34)  Psalm 110:3 says ” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of your power”.  God does not force us to love Him.  He does not force us to serve Him (ultimately these two are the same).  He declares His purpose and waits for the softened heart to volunteer for usefulness.  “Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blessed”–Fanny Crosby.  No credit to us, just a sign that we have seen God.

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 6 (day three)  “Above him were seraphs. . .and they were calling to one another:  ‘Holy,holy,holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory’ ” (vs 2-3)  When Isaiah SAW the Lord, he HEARD seraphs.  Seraphs are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible.  Perhaps an order of angels.  We really don’t know.  What impressed Isaiah was their words.  Part song, part statement the seraphs spoke of God’s unique identity and worth.  To do so was a high, holy privilege.  Perhaps this explains Isaiah’s conviction of sin– particularly sins of the lips.  Unclean lips are those which, unlike the seraph’s, are used for every other purpose but speaking OF  God, FOR God.  Unclean lips are those that speak of sports and family and doctor’s appointments and presidential elections. . .but somehow in it all,  stay silent about the one subject that truly matters.  The seraph’s  words convicted Isaiah of sin.  Lord, open our eyes, open our mouths!

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 6 (day two)  ” ‘Woe is me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips’ ”  (vs 5)  A real encounter with God is much harder than we normally think.  For all the promise of eternal life and mind-boggling peace, a friendship with the Holy One comes with a cost.  When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, his first feelings were of danger and vulnerability. The temple shook and filled with smoke–like an earthquake or a house fire.  Disturbing!  He also experienced guilt.  Peter felt the same in his first encounters with Christ. (see Luke 5:8)  Painful?  Yes!  Life-giving?  Yes, yes!  Jesus said, “The way is DIFFICULT that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14)  Perhaps we should read it “The way is difficult that leads to LIFE”   No discouragement here.  Just honest truth.  Walking in friendship with God is hard start, hard assignment with a great finish!

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 6 (day one)  “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (vs 1)  Our scripture this week is a testimony.  In some respects it is extraordinary.  In others, it is so familiar that it is almost common.  Through a series of gracious events, a person who doesn’t see God, can’t perceive eternal reality or obligation, suddenly does!  Blind eyes see.  The Isaiah particulars may be unique but the story is same for Paul, Martin Luther, John Newton. . .When a person finally realizes that “God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6)  salvation and a life of service are the result.  Referencing his own experience the Apostle Paul will later write, “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened”  (Ephesians 1:18)  It is my same prayer for us all.  Amazing grace. . .

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5:1-13, 18-23 (day seven)  “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks. . .but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord” (vs 11-12)  It is so common it almost seems normal (not the same thing) –people who make life choices based on pleasure.  Alcohol is only one example.  Just as easy to surrender life to mood or recreation.  The central characteristic of such a life?  Avoid pain!  Seek pleasure!  Be happy!  Life like this (2800 years ago and today) has no regard for the deeds of the Lord.  (Please note! It is not pleasure that is the problem, but pleasure as the priority of life)  Somehow, there is never time or motivation to wait on the Lord or consider His purposes.  The end of this life is woe (grief, sorrow, loss).  Pleasure is a mistress not a wife.  The higher life is not found following our feelings, but in following Christ.

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5: 1-13, 18-23 (day six)  “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done?” (vs 4)  One argument that God has against the human race is that despite His goodness, we have not learned to love/trust Him.  It is a sad and honest report.  God HAS been good to us (life, freedom, resources, scripture, Spirit, friends, teachers. . .a long list of His kindness) but we have not changed.  Many still fear and cling to control of our own lives (the illusion of it, anyway).  This is deep illness.  To receive so much and yet stay so selfish, to accept His help but never address the anxiety and pride that really controls us is to finally leave God no other option.  He will let us go because there is nothing else to do.  At some point every man must decide.  Will I be loyal to my illness/my fears or loyal to the God who has loved me?

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5:1-13, 18-23 (day five)  “I will sing . . . a song about HIS vineyard” (vs 1)  Many of you have heard by now that Stephen Carrell is resigning from First Baptist Church to take a similar position with a church in Dallas. (Park Cities Baptist)  When I heard this news on Tuesday, my emotions were “all over the map”.  Disappointed.  Afraid.  Angry.  Hopeful.  Calm.  Deciding which feeling to follow was confusing.  I found solid footing late the next day (it was a process of prayer) when I began to ask this question, “What does God deserve in this moment?”  Not “what do I want?”  (or anyone else for that matter)   What do I owe Him?  What attitude of heart  will please Him and proclaim His Kingdom?  It is an Isaiah question.  We are God’s vineyard.  He expects and deserves to receive certain things from us.  Right feelings and right fruit.  I am praying for you today.  See you Sunday.

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5:1-13, 18-23 (day four)  “I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard” (vs 1)  One of the most obvious things about faith is that it sings.  It sings for the love of God.  It is nearly impossible for passionate love not to be expressed in song or verse.  Fall in love and some song on your radio/ipod will get you singing along.  For 150 years (and almost 150 ways) people at First Baptist Church have been singing TO the Lord, FOR the Lord.  It is part of who we are and always will be.  I got an email yesterday from a friend who is “re searching”the place of faith in his life.  He writes, “one of my most vivid memories from childhood is the hymn Just As I Am. . .as long as I have my mind, this song will be firmly lodged therein”  It is the same with all of us.  When we believe we sing.

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5:1-13, 18-23 (day three)  “I looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.”  (vs 7)  I hate feeling disappointed.  I have several strategies for avoiding it.  I think God hates it too.  He hates looking at us (His people) expecting to find a just and socially conscious society where poor people are coached and cared for, only to find the bloodshed of gang/drug violence and tears of distress from people who are trapped and lost.  It is disappointing!  Especially when He has intentionally and richly blessed some so that they (we) will become agents of salvation, channels of blessing.  Even allowing for His patience, God’s disappointment will eventually lead to destruction.  He will not give up on the dream of a restored earth/ fair society!  Even if it means removing His protection so that our opportunity can come to an end.  Then, He can give the job to people who will not disappoint Him.

RE Verse reading–Isaiah 5:1-13, 18-23 (day two)  “He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit”  (vs 2)  Everyone produces something.  Actually, no one is unfruitful.  Good or bad, all of us contribute something to history and the emotional/spiritual environment on this planet.  Sometimes the by-product of our life is criticism or strife.  Sometimes it is love and justice.  The Lord watches what we produce.  He has invested much in us.  He stays involved.  The Bible says that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. . .”  People not producing this fruit are not Spirit filled.  Flesh has different outcomes.  (see Galatians 5:19-22)  Isaiah and Paul agree on this.  Everyone produces something and what our lives produce indicates our relationship to God.  We should not be deceived.  A good heart does NOT produce bad fruit.  It’s a tragedy–people bearing bad fruit when God offers a different result.  Good news!  A good harvest is still possible.