Picture the Bible Reflection for April 19, 2021
This week we’re looking at a bit of Isaiah. You can read the about it here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8%3B+11%3A1-10&version=NIV
Today I want us to think about the first part (Isaiah 6:1-8), Isaiah’s Commission. Here he describes his encounter with the divine. It sounds quite involved, actually. He sees God, seated on a throne, like a great king. Seraphim having 6 wings each, covering faces, feet, and helping them to fly as they called out to each other. There was some shaking in the temple and it filled with smoke. He confesses to them that he is imperfect and living among people who are also imperfect. And then one of the seraphim took a live coal, touching his lips with it and saying all is forgiven. God asks him, who shall I send? Isaiah replies, send me.
Some understand that to be called means you must be ready already. . That you must have be whole and pure and know what you’re doing. The human default of comparing ourselves to others can really hold us back. The reality is that God calls people who are not quite ready and who are imperfect all the time. God walks and guides them through, putting people and experiences in their path to help them learn and grow and do what needs to be done. I think God chooses to call us, as human as we are, because we can relate, we can engage, and mostly because we are imperfect. That we need diverse leaders for a diverse world.
My wondering today is simple. Have you ever not lived out a call because you felt unprepared or imperfect? Have you ever felt a call and saw it through? Are you being called to something in this very moment?
What I love about these reflections is that I get to search out songs I never knew existed. Here’s a song called “Perfectly Imperfect” by April Kry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y5CNjsUJXw
Let us pray:
Creator of all things that are good, be with us this week as we live out our lives as perfectly imperfect as we are. Help us to find security and confidence in ourselves, no matter what we’re doing and no matter what moods come our way. Help us to keep you at the centre of our lives, wondering how we can bring about your kingdom here and now. Help us to be cheerleaders to others, especially to those who are really down on themselves… even if that it us. Strengthen us and keep us in your loving embrace this day and all our days to come. Amen.
This week we’re looking at a bit of Isaiah. You can read the about it here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8%3B+11%3A1-10&version=NIV
Today I want us to think about the first part (Isaiah 6:1-8), Isaiah’s Commission. Here he describes his encounter with the divine. It sounds quite involved, actually. He sees God, seated on a throne, like a great king. Seraphim having 6 wings each, covering faces, feet, and helping them to fly as they called out to each other. There was some shaking in the temple and it filled with smoke. He confesses to them that he is imperfect and living among people who are also imperfect. And then one of the seraphim took a live coal, touching his lips with it and saying all is forgiven. God asks him, who shall I send? Isaiah replies, send me.
Some understand that to be called means you must be ready already. . That you must have be whole and pure and know what you’re doing. The human default of comparing ourselves to others can really hold us back. The reality is that God calls people who are not quite ready and who are imperfect all the time. God walks and guides them through, putting people and experiences in their path to help them learn and grow and do what needs to be done. I think God chooses to call us, as human as we are, because we can relate, we can engage, and mostly because we are imperfect. That we need diverse leaders for a diverse world.
My wondering today is simple. Have you ever not lived out a call because you felt unprepared or imperfect? Have you ever felt a call and saw it through? Are you being called to something in this very moment?
What I love about these reflections is that I get to search out songs I never knew existed. Here’s a song called “Perfectly Imperfect” by April Kry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y5CNjsUJXw
Let us pray:
Creator of all things that are good, be with us this week as we live out our lives as perfectly imperfect as we are. Help us to find security and confidence in ourselves, no matter what we’re doing and no matter what moods come our way. Help us to keep you at the centre of our lives, wondering how we can bring about your kingdom here and now. Help us to be cheerleaders to others, especially to those who are really down on themselves… even if that it us. Strengthen us and keep us in your loving embrace this day and all our days to come. Amen.