Today’s Reading, Isaiah 5-8
Focal Scripture: Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.”
Are you willing to go where the Lord leads you? If not our hearts are not completely devoted to his will for our lives. I am going to be very transparent today with how God has worked and moved in my life. A little over a year ago I transitioned from full time ministry back to the classroom. It was a very difficult decision because my heart is to serve students and preach the word. I miss being in full time ministry and serving the local church. However, looking back on what God has done my obedience to him was more important than what I wanted to do at the moment.
God delivered me from a very bad situation and leadership. He delivered me from a place where ministry was not a priority and where the culture was not open to obedience. I am now in a place where my gifts are valued and I am doing more ministry than I was in the church setting. God had to make things very bad for me to hear the call of “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” I had to leave what I wanted to do and go to where he needed me to be in my life. This happened for a few reasons. First, so I can heal from what I witnessed and experienced. Second, to be reminded what good leadership looks like on a large scale setting. Finally, to see first hand the needs of young people for over 40 hours a week. Being back in the school setting has only given me more of a passion for the next generation.
Today’s verse is a question we all must wrestle with in our lives. God’s looking for people to go out on his behalf. Most people won’t be obedient and follow through with what he wants them to do because it means a change must happen. However, we need to be like Isaiah and say “Here, I am. Send Me.”
That is the challenge that we all must deal with everyday in our lives. We need to be obedient no matter if it makes sense in the moment. Even though I miss full time ministry, I am being educated in a way that the silo of ministry kept me from seeing. I miss preparing to preach every week but now I am preparing to minister everyday through conversations with adults and students.
I am not sure what the Lord is calling you to do but I ask that you be obedient. God provided for me immediately a way out of a bad situation. He has shown me that ministry in the trenches matters more than ministry in a silo. Do I hope to serve the local church in a more formal setting again? Absolutely! I believe my giftedness and skills can benefit the local church. It will probably not look like normal ministry context.
What I want you to get from today’s reading is to be obedient and go where he has called you to go in ministry. It might look different for a season or maybe for the rest of your life. No matter what, know God is looking for obedient servants. Volunteer to go wherever he sends you, for however long he wants you in that position.
He will not waste any season of your life when you are being obedient to him in your life. Don’t let others define what ministry looks like for you and your calling. Then most importantly know that God is always working even when you might not understand the circumstances. Go out for the Lord and be an example for others. Your story matters and people need the encouragement.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Isaiah 9-12
