We are ALL called to serve God by following Jesus and making a difference in our day for Him. Many confuse attending church with answering that call. Please know that attending church is not fully following Christ, although many who follow Christ attend church. Church will not make us a Christ-follower. To be willing and ready to follow Christ, we have to recognize who He is and what we are not. He is holy; we are not. As we recognize who Jesus is and what we are not, we realize that He must do a work in our lives in order for us to follow and serve Him.
Isaiah had a fresh revelation of God and His holiness that revealed to him his unholy state (Isaiah 6:1-8). Recognizing that God needed to do a work in him before he could serve God, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). God answered Isaiah’s cry for help and sent seraphim from His very presence to cleanse Isaiah. After God cleansed Isaiah, he was willing and ready to go and do whatever God required, in total obedience and service to the Almighty.
The new covenant reminds us that what God did for Isaiah, He has done for us through the blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. God chose us to follow Christ as part of His plan long ago. We are cleansed and made holy for service! We receive God’s grace and His peace. Taking hold of all that God has done for us, all that He has planned for us, and all that He freely gives to us, we are willing and ready to follow Christ.
Beloved, receive fresh measures of God’s grace and peace that He pours out freely to you today. You have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus! You have been made holy by the Holy Spirit! You are willing and ready to follow Christ! Serve Him with your whole being and all that you have.
SCRIPTURE:
“God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace” (1 Peter 1:2, NLT).
PRAYER:
Holy God, I thank you for the grace and peace that you freely give. Please give me more of both, I pray. I thank you for the blood of Christ that cleanses me. I thank you for your Spirit that makes me holy. I’m available for your service; use me for your glory. I’m willing and ready to follow Christ wherever He leads me today. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.
Know that you are loved,
gaj
Books by Gregory A. Johnson:
