Monday Morning Encouragement -- Here I Am, Send Me

 

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

On Wednesday, September 10th, the Christian family lost Charlie Kirk, one of its own. A remarkable young man, who loved God and spoke openly about him. Daily he texted scripture to his friends. Testimonies are being posted by countless people of how Charlie helped them during difficult times in their lives, and encouraged them to remain faithful to Christ. During his debates on college campuses he urged young people to give their lives to Jesus Christ and live for Him. Charlie certainly lived what he preached. His lovely wife spoke of how much he loved her and his children. But mostly she talked about his deep love for God, and how everything he did was motivated by that love. In his work, in his home, in his relationships. 

Last week I wrote a devotion about how God brings good out of bad circumstances. At the time I didn't know how prophetic my writing would become. Now we are seeing first hand how true Romans 8:28 is: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Already God is using Charlie's assassination to spread the Gospel. As my friend Connie beautifully commented on last week's post after God called Charlie home:

"Oh, what a mighty and loving God we serve. I believe this for the life of Charlie Kirk as well. The Lord is going to use his life and death to bring many more young men and women to Himself. Righteous will prevail . . . we've read the book and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt how it ends."

God's mighty Spirit is moving across the whole world right now. I've been watching videos of prayer services not just in the United States, but around the world: England, South Korea, Australia, Spain, and so many more countries. I am hearing of packed churches yesterday that once were only half full. I'm seeing testimonies  of people giving their lives to Christ, and committing to serving Him. People are emboldened to speak the truth, regardless of the consequences. Charlie's death was not in vain, and God is being glorified through it.

Now we who love God have a unique window of opportunity to share His love and gift of salvation with a dark and dying world. Yes, many people are celebrating Charlie's death. Literally. But far more are not. They are hungry for the truth, and we have it within our power to provide the truth, just as Charlie did. The Word of God is truth, and it has not lost its power to save. "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17).

The question remains for us, just as it did for Isaiah:

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Isaiah answered, "Here I am! Send me." 

Let's answer the call. Let's do it out of love and obedience to our mighty God. He will call us to the places He wants to reach through us. It may not be a college campus (although it certainly could be), it could be in our own family, it may be on the block where we live, in the place where we work, in the gym where we work out, or through social media. Wherever it is, let's say, "Here we are Lord! Send us."

Today's music video is of a song I heard for the first time on my drive to church yesterday. This beautiful song, Song of the Saints by Phil Wickham, touched me so deeply, and set my heart into a posture of worship. In my opinion, it's an anthem for the Church. So appropriate for this moment in time. Please, please, take time to listen to this song. If you haven't yet heard it, or even if you have, you will be greatly encouraged. I know.

I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.