God Changes Our Language

When God wants us to perform a task for him and we need to use words, he is willing to change our language. Isaiah experienced this.

He witnessed God in an incredible way. He came to discover with a shock that he could better remain silent! His lips were cleansed before God called him for a job.

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
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.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 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!”

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NBV)

A child of God who wants to do something for him, usually goes through several stages.

Encounter With a Holy God

It is not exactly clear whether this is a first meeting or a renewed meeting. But the result is the same: The life of Isaiah is changed forever by this encounter. He sees God as a high and holy God.

Have we met God so that we are convinced of His greatness and holiness?

Discovery of Our Own Unholiness

When Isaiah sees God's greatness and holiness he screams! "I must be quiet! I have unclean lips. My language is not right! Around me are people who have unclean lips. In order to meet God ...". He is deeply dismayed!

When we draw close to God, we will often realize how different we are. Our own sins can shock us deeply.

Cleansing From God

Instead of rejecting us and finding us unworthy, God meets our weaknesses. Isaiah is cleansed of all his sins with a live coal from God's altar. We may also be cleansed daily by the blood of Jesus Christ (cf. John 1:9). By cleaning us from all unrighteousness, often coming from our mouth, God makes us ready for a role in His Kingdom.

May God change your language? Our words say something about who we are deep in our hearts (see Matthew 15:18) . Our words are difficult to control (see James 3). May God help you? May He intervene so deeply in your life?

Calling From God

Immediately after the cleansing, Isaiah is called. Not everyone is called directly, but we are only called after we are cleansed by God. The calling of Isaiah is clear: Going out for God.

God may call us to take our place in our family. In addition, people are often called to serve the local church. Let us keep our ears open.