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 (ESV)
Here am I. Send me.
Dangerous words.
Then the message was a discouraging one to share.
And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10 (ESV)
It was a message of judgment. They hear the message but refuse to understand. They see God at work but they don’t perceive His guiding hand. Their hearts are calloused. Their ears are deaf. It would be rather rude to say that about the people in my community, but is it true?
Our logic doesn’t work. It’s foolish in their sight. Our reason is befuddling and seems like gibberish. Our morals are viewed as hate. Our efforts seem to be wasted.
On the bad days, I feel that is my role in the ministry. Called to preach amongst a people who won’t listen and won’t commit to the kingdom. Among the ones who the world has labeled the “deplorables.” The ones who church planting organizations overlook as they make their plans to reach the wealthy through their demographic studies of population growth and income. The ones who are ignored by the same people who get psyched up with mission trips to the inner city. The ones who are mocked, denigrated, and despised. The ones who Jesus loves.
On the real bad days, I worry that I am the blind, deaf, obstinate one.
**
Paul gave a chunk of advice in his letter to the church in Ephesus.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:1-21 (ESV)
Awake, O sleeper.
Who wakes the sleeper? All I can figure out is that I’m not the one that does that. It may be the sleeper. It may be God. I’m guessing by it being a command, the responsibility of waking is on the sleepers themselves. Awake, O sleeper.
Those things are out of my hands. I can choose how to walk. I can strive to be awake. I can be an imitator of God to the best of my ability. I can walk in love that comes from a place overflowing from the love I receive from the Messiah. I can to refrain from sin. On and on, I can try. But for that to happen in others, I need a move of God. I need others to feel his presence and change.
A church cannot grow without sleepers waking. A church cannot grow without people choosing to be called. A church cannot grow without people responding to that call with total abandon.
Awake, O sleeper. What if I am sleeping?
**
If I don’t care about showing Jesus to the people around here, who will? If you don’t, who will?
