Don't shut the doors

Last night Dr. Mark Rutland preached at our Sunday night service. What a powerful message! He talked about God being bigger than any problem that can possible happen in life, but he also pointed out that God is bigger than the wonderful events that take place in life. He admonished us not to shut the doors of our hearts and our church to the world. It is so hard to comprehend just how big God is and to understand that nothing takes Him by surprise. Oh, we all know it in our heads, but do we REALLY believe it in our hearts? I know I am trying to really get this and it may take a lifetime.

Dr. Rutland used the following scripture:

Isaiah 6:1-8

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In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “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.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then 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!”

The thing that struck me the most is that Dr. Rutland explained that although this sounds like a very eager person who thinks he qualifies for the job, when you read this passage in the original Hebrew it actually reads more like, "Look me over and see if you can use me." That is much more humble, but although Isaiah recognized his unworthiness, his lack of ability, his faults and shortcomings, he also recognized that God is bigger than all of that. Isaiah made himself available. He simply asked God to look him over and determine whether or not He could use Isaiah. That is what God wants. People that are available. God is bigger than our shortcomings. He can find a place to use each and every one of us. What a blessing! God is so big and powerful He can do anything, and do it alone. BUT HE CHOOSES to use us. HE CHOOSES to bless us with the opportunity to share in His work. So you know that He could keep on creating human beings but He decided to allow us to have a part in His creation process and allow us to procreate? God is so gracious and compassionate. If you have not been serving our Lord ask Him today to look you over and see if He can use you. Tell him, "Here am I, send me!" You will never regret it as you enjoy the blessings that come with serving and getting closer to God our Father as well as helping one another. Don't ever shut the doors. You may be open to hurt and trials but you will also be open to receive blessings and joy!

Here are the lyrics to a Keith Green song called "Here am I send me":

Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done.
Oh Lord, so many souls to be won,
Oh Lord, this world is falling apart,
Dying for love from a broken heart.

Here am I, send me, though there's really not that much I can do.
What I have seems so small, but I want to give it all to you.

Oh Lord, you said the harvest was great,
But Lord, looks like the workers are late.
It's getting hard to understand,
How they ignore your great command.

Here am I, send me, though you said the ones who labor are few,
Still my heart hears the call, and I wanna give it all to you.
Oh, to reach the ones nobody does,
Give up my pride and even work in the mud,
I wanna be like those who spilled their blood,
And gave it like water to you.

Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done.
Oh Lord, so many souls to be won,
It seem this world is falling apart,
Lord won't you send me?

Oh Lord, there's just so much to be done.
Oh Lord, so many souls to be won,
Oh Lord, this world is falling apart,
Crying for love from a broken heart.

Here am I, send me, though there's really not that much I can do.
What I have seems so small, but I want to give it all to you.
Here am I, send me,
Though you said the ones you've chosen are few,
Still my heart hears you call,
And I wanna give it all to you.