The rallying cry of the missions conference reverberates within the walls of the sanctuary, as a missionary from a foreign field asks the congregation who will go to the harvest and they respond, "Here I am Lord Send ME!" This phrase is used within churches, videos, and conferences throughout the nation. In our bibles we've named it 'Isaiah's commission', because it's when the prophet Isaiah is stepping forward to voluntarily go to the people and go out for God. This passage, which is found in the book of Isaiah chapter six verse eight, has been used as a rallying cry for countless pastors, missionaries, church leaders, and everyone in between. It's a good verse, almost William Wallace like in its' fervor and climax.
We often think it's a rallying cry to an epic God adventure to take part in transforming the world. We see our ministries changing the lives of thousands, healing the sick, raising people from the dead, and literally changing the course of humanity for the better. But what if God hasn't called you to those sort of feats? Will you continue with all fervor then? What if no one listens? What if your message only causes them to further distance themselves from God?
Turn to the passage in Isaiah, see what God called Isaiah to do. (Isaiah 6 if you forgot).
God says that Isaiah's audience will
-Hear his words yet not understand them. (vs. 9)
-See but never perceive (vs.9)
-Their hearts will be calloused and the eyes dull and closed (vs.10)
Isaiah then wonders for how long he is going to have to preach this message, and God replies
-Until the cities are destroyed, houses empty, crops ruined, and the people have left (vs. 11)
-Until the Lord send the people away and the land is forsaken(vs. 12)
-Until a tenth is left in the land... the stump of what once was... (vs.13)
If God were in our services asking people to the mission field, he may have wanted to leave those verses out of His message. God just asked Isaiah to go and preach to people who will never listen, never change, and who will be decimated along with their land, not a great ministry is it?
And yet, Isaiah was faithful to his call.
Isaiah wasn't called to start a mega church.
Nor was he called to lead a great revival.
God didn't even give him hope of changing one person.
God asked him to faithfulness.
Faithfulness in the midst of chaos.
Faithfulness in the midst of strife.
Faithfulness in the midst of failure.
Faithfulness in the midst of famine.
Faithfulness in the midst of doubt.
Faithfulness in the midst of loneliness.
Is your God given mission not going as you had hoped? Were you expecting greater returns on the path you thought God had brought you on? Is the ministry you started shrinking instead of growing?
What if that was God's plan all along?
What if that's what God has called you to and faithfulness is the only thing you can offer?
Is that enough?
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