thursday

Devotional
Read Isaiah 6:1-5

 

Isa 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Isa 6:3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
Isa 6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5 And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

 

Thoughts for the Day

Isaiah’s view of the Presence of God, sitting on His throne in between the Seraphim (angelic ministers of God) gives us a sense of God’s Greatness, Mystery, Power, and Holiness. The Presence, which is described in Hebrew as Shekinah, ‘a word which does not appear in the Bible, but the concept clearly does. The Jewish rabbis coined this extra-biblical expression, a form of a Hebrew word that literally means "he caused to dwell," signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of JEHOVAH God on this earth.’
The atmosphere, which Isaiah was caught up in, opened a whole new understanding of the nature of God to him. This view helped him to recognize his sinfulness before God; and encouraged him to confess his sins. And at the same time gave him the picture of forgiveness in God that wipes away sins. The shouts of the attending angels of Holy, Holy, Holy, was a proclamation of the Holiness of God. The word Holiness means moral perfection, purity or setting apart from sin.

If we, as people of God can discover God’s holiness, then our daily frustrations, societal pressures, as well as our shortcomings will be overwhelmed by the presence of God; and bring spiritual renewal that will open our spiritual eyes to see the King of Glory on his throne.

One may ask how can we experience the Presence as Isaiah did, the answer is that God’s Presence could be experienced through our approach to Worship, Prayer, Music and holiness in our lifestyles. Another aspect is our ability to realize his deepest Love, Mercy and Grace; and his bigness over every situation opens spiritual doors for his presence among us.

Prayer Focus:

 

The closer you are to God, the more you can see yourself as a sinner who needs the saving Grace of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

 

Lord, help me to live in your presence every day of my life by the things I do. Amen!