A song popular among our campus ministry group is taken from today's Old Testament reading from Isaiah 6:1-13. The refrain of the song goes, "Here I am Lord, if you need me. I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart."
Isaiah is called, by God, to speak to the people of Israel. God needs Isaiah to remind them of God's instructions for them.
But, God warns Isaiah that they will not be eager to hear what he has to say. Their hearts have gown fat, their ears heavy, and they have shut their eyes. Isaiah is needed, God wants him to go, in order to open ears and eyes and oversee the in-breaking of God's Word.
I wonder if this is what we think, as we sing our song together. Are we mindful of the need to speak God's Word, to hear God's Word? All too often we shift to a notion of service - to others in the name of Christ. We identify our work in caring for the poor or distressed. We think of our efforts to address injustice. But the call to Isaiah is one to speaking (and hearing) the Word of God. All good works, all acts of service, all reflections of God's presence in our lives grows out of our encounter with the Word.
I love to gather with my brothers and sisters and sing. I also love to read my Bible and listen for the Word of God. My response to God, ("Here I am Lord") begins with being ready to listen to God's voice, when it calls me, as it speaks to me.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment