Isaiah 6

“So I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because 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.’  Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal, which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged.’  Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’  Then I said, ‘Here am I!  Send me.’” Isaiah 6:5-8 (NKJV)

Excuses, excuses.  Everybody has one.  Moses had one:

“But Moses replied to the Lord, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent--either in the past or recently or since You have been speaking to Your servant--because I am slow and hesitant in speech."  Exodus 4:10 (HCSB)

Jeremiah had one:

“But I protested, ‘Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don't know how to speak since I am only a youth.’”  Jeremiah 1:6 (HCSB)

10 of the 12 spies who scouted the land of Canaan after the exodus had one:

“But the men who had gone up with him (Caleb) said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.’” Numbers 13:31 (NKJV)

And the list goes on.  So, what is YOUR excuse?  What excuse do you give for not living faithfully, as God calls us?  Do you not realize that where God GUIDES, God PROVIDES?  He does not call you because He needs your giftedness and in order to accomplish His purposes.  God has gifted you because you need His provision in order to be successful in the things He calls you to accomplish.

So, like Isaiah, we must first realize we are unworthy in His presence and confess that sin to Him.  Then He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) when we place our faith in Him, and He fills us with His Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)  Then He calls us specifically equipped for the work He has called us to.  (Hebrews 13:20-21)  And when we obey and heed His call, He literally works through us (even as He is working on us through sanctification) to accomplish the goal to which we are called.  

“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ [Messiah] Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)

So, what is your excuse for not stepping up and shouting, “Here am I!  Send me!?”