“ ‘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 seraphim 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.’ ”
– Isaiah 6:5-7
It’s safe to say that Isaiah “freaked out” when he saw God’s glory and his reaction was to exclaim, “Woe to me! I am ruined! I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips!” Beholding the fullness of the Almighty made the prophet immediately mindful of his own sinfulness, yet God showed mercy. After his exclamation, a seraph, with eyes all over his body and wings to cover his face, took a pair of tongs and got a live coal from the altar. He flew directly toward Isaiah and touched his mouth while proclaiming to him that his sins had been atoned for. I’m pretty sure it hurt, but in the end, it was a pain that set him free. My friend, though acknowledging how far you are from being holy is a difficult thing to do, the reward is always greater than the discomfort. When you choose to take ownership of your position in the presence of God’s righteousness, there will be heat, but it will not consume you. While the sting of the Refiner’s fire may be searing for a season, it will ultimately release you from sin’s grip. It’s His love that presses the coal to your mouth to remove your guilt and shame, and when you embrace the fullness of its power, you will be redeemed and transformed! |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for redeeming my life with the heat of your refining fire.
Reflection
In what area(s) do you need the searing mercy of God’s purifying fire?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
