SWHW Two Year Bible Reading Plan: March, Year 2Sample

Top Takeaway from Liz Patton:

I can still remember where I was when I first heard these lyrics from the incredibly popular song, “I Can Only Imagine,” by Mercy Me, and it completely stopped me in my tracks:

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine.

One of the reasons I think this song has since become one of the best-selling Christian songs of all time is because we truly do imagine how we will respond when we first see Jesus face to face.  To be honest, I think I’ll be in the “to my knees will I fall” camp. 

That's why it's easy for me to understand how Isaiah must have felt as we read about his response to seeing God in Isaiah 6:5,  

“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.” 

First of all, I’m guessing that Isaiah totally thought he would die after seeing God because God previously told Moses in Exodus 33:20, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 

And in addition to being ruined for seeing God, Isaiah clearly also felt ruined because of his unclean lips.  In the previous five chapters, he was pretty much bashing his own nation, telling them what guilt and judgment was coming for them.  But now, in the presence of the one true God, Isaiah is overcome by his own guilt.

Maybe you’ve experienced something similar.  I know I have.  During communion, a powerful worship service, or an early morning quiet time when the Lord’s presence is so near, I have at times been brought to tears over my own sin and guilt.

But as I’m sure you already know, it’s not really our lips that are the root problem.  It’s our hearts.  It may have been Isaiah’s lips that he asked to be cleaned, but as Jesus reminds us, it’s out of the abundance of our hearts that our mouths speak (Matthew 12:34).

In His loving kindness, God allowed one of the seraphs to touch Isaiah’s mouth and said, “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”  

With just one touch, the uncleanness of Isaiah’s lips, and more importantly his heart, were burned away.  What was once found unholy was immediately made holy.  Rather than death, he received life.  

And friends, the same is true for us.  In our own sin we would not be worthy to stand in the presence of the most high God, but because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the amazing grace of God, we are made worthy.  May this be a truth that never gets watered down or routine for us!

May today’s Scripture humbly convict us of our sin and bring us to our knees in repentance before a holy God Who sent His Son to be a sacrifice for us so that one day we can stand before Him in eternity! 

Dear God, please forgive my unclean lips and heart.  Thank You for sending us Your Son who takes away the sins of the world; Your Son who takes away my guilt and makes it possible for me to one day stand in Your presence.  I look forward to that day when I can see You face to face.  Until then, I will worship You, live for You, and tell others about You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.