Isaiah had a powerful commission to minister and proclaim the Lord's Word.  In Isaiah 6, he has a vision of the Lord seated on a temple throne accompanied by praising angels.  Isaiah felt unworthy and sinful because he knew his lips were unclean, that sin was weakening both him and the people.

One of the angels takes a live coal from the altar with tongs and touches his mouth, and then Isaiah is ready to accept the Lord's commission to speak to the people and awake them to repentance and healing.



Even later on, Isaiah declares in Isaiah 50:  "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.  He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious;"

 

In Isaiah 53, he foretells the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to take on "the sin of many, and make intercession for the transgressors." (verse 12)

In Hebrews, Jesus' function of intercessor as a perfect priest forever to make intercession for all people is confirmed.  Jesus brings a new covenant and a new complete cleansing forgiveness.-- "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9: 15 NIV)

And again:  "But when this priest (Jesus of the priestly order of Melchizedek) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of  God.  Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."  Hebrews 10: 12-14 NIV

 

The Holy Spirit also testifies to this saving grace: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.  I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds....Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."  (Hebrews 10: 16-17 NIV)

 

Herein may lie the contemporary problem.  The permanent deposit of the Holy Spirit as a seal unto salvation with the compelling truth in hearts and minds may be getting pushed into a subordinate place in our lives.  While we get cluttered with daily business and care, we are letting our most precious heritage get pushed into the background.

The reality of the overwhelming truth of Christ's perfect redemption for us is taking second place to computers, videos, games, technology, Facebook, Twitter, and the many, many chores of daily living.  We desperately need to take time each day to freshen up and get in touch with the Lord of Life and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Our daily prayer should be:  "Renew in me a right spirit, O Lord, and make me mindful of all your enduring mercies." (adaptation of scripture)

 

Mary-Ellen Grisham is a Christian writer living in Godfrey, Illinois, with her family. She is the Editor of Eternal Ink, a Christian ezine newsletter, and the author of a new book Grace Notes. She can be reached at meginrose@charter.net andmeginrose@gmail.com