Giving in Ministry

5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

9He said, “Go and tell this people:

“ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ (Isaiah 6)

Thoughts: One of the ways of giving is to give of yourself.  Giving of yourself in Christian ministry is a specific call with some definite costs.  Everyone who was called into ministry in scripture gave so much.  Abraham left his home.  Moses was rejected by the people. Elijah was hunted down by Jezebel.  Isaiah had a message that the people would be taken into exile and tradition says he was beheaded.  Jeremiah was thrown into a mudpit.  Ezekiel was told to be a watchman but that the people would not listen.  Daniel was taken into exile and thrown into a furnace.  Paul has a long list of his hardships- thrown to lions, stones, left for dead, shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten.  All of the Apostles were martyred but one and that one (John) was imprisoned in exile.  As someone said, "When God calls someone, He bids them come and die."  To say, "Here am I send me" is hard.  Ironically, to sink into the shadows and not answer God's call is also hard (just look at Jonah).  But the benefits of following God and answering His call- being in His will are immeasurable.  It is giving yourself to God by faith.
    Tomorrow in our church, an associate pastor will be installed.  It is a recognition he has answered the call to serve.  It is a tough call- and for that we should all pray for him.  Serving in ministry is an important way we give to God.  When someone serves full time- it is truly a gift of faith.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to give myself to you and walk by faith and not by sight.