Are you playing to win? Or just playing around?

God is asking, “Whom shall I send,  and who will go for us?”

Psalms 138:8 NLT
The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O  Lord , endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Have we heard the call,  friend?

Do we know that quiet inner voice?

Isaiah 6:8-10 ESV
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’  
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Do we hear it?

Do we understand?

Do we believe?

Have we seen truth,  but turn away from the brightness of the light,  shielding our eyes and returning to darkness?

Is our heart dull and empty?

Do we find it difficult to love these people that surround us daily?

Do we find it difficult to forgive?

Do we find it hard to serve those who do not deserve our love and mercy?

Are our eyes blind to the glory of a God who loves us and values us enough to take notice of us, even in our unworthiness – to love and forgive and save and redeem and serve us sacrificially and uncompromisingly?

Are our ears deaf to His guidance and instruction?

How long will the Lord suffer our disobedience and rebellion?

How long will this false prophet of peace,  where people find their comfort in prosperity instead of in the Lord – where they rest amongst the security of riches and wealth instead of relying faithfully upon the Lord – how long will the Lord hold back His judgement?

How long will this antichrist message that focuses on rewards for self instead of honor for God, mislead people into a false trust that they can “live like hell” because they have purchased a false ticket to heaven with an empty prayer, a splash of water,  and a check written out to a great showman,  a puppeteer,  a puller of their emotional strings?

How long will it take for us to stand up and say, “Here I am! Send me!”

How long will we stand back, thinking to ourselves, “That’s someone else’s job. What can I do? Anyways, I’m not good at any of that evangelism or discipleship or volunteering stuff. I go to church on Sunday and I tithe. That should be enough for God.”

How long will we find excuses and listen to the warnings of others who tell us that we are foolish to think that we could make a difference in this world?

How long will we listen to the murmuring of others who would tell us that we are disqualified because of our past mistakes?

How long will we listen to the dissention of those voices who would whisper to us that we are not equipped, that we need more training before we should open our mouths to anyone about our risen Savior?

Yes, we need to continue in our training,  we need to continue growing,  we need to continue equipping ourselves and sharpening – but if you have Christ in you,  friend – you are equipped TODAY to shine forth as light and salt in this world that is sorely lost,  blind,  deaf,  and dead.

You might strike out of you step up to the plate. In fact, you might even look foolish to others as you take your first few swings at pitches that you have so little likelihood of hitting at first. But if you never stand up, if you never try,  if you never get the bat off of your shoulder and take a chance swinging,  YOU’LL NEVER GET TO PLAY IN THE GAME.

So the question becomes,  do you even want to play in the game?

Are you comfortable being a spectator?

Do you have no real interest in being at the game? 

You are meant to be an instrument set aside for God’s holy use.

How much Holy use did God get out of your life today,  friend?

I know that for me, it was far less than I would like it to be tomorrow.

Christ lives in me. He can hit home runs all day long if I let Him use me.

But I have to choose to let Him use me.

I have to stand up and say, “Here I am! Send me!”

With enthusiasm, not pride,  because He knows how to humble me if it is about me.

You see,  it’s about Him.

It isn’t about not going to hell.
It isn’t about getting to go to heaven.
It isn’t about winning rewards.
It isn’t about me.
It isn’t about you.

It is about Almighty God who deserves our honor and praise.

It is about a merciful and loving God who is also righteous and just – who offers us the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ – not as a get out of hell ticket that we save to use after we die – but as a free gift to be used RIGHT NOW to change our lives.

What needs to change in your life,  friend?

What in your life is not honoring God today,  friend?

I’m not here to beat you up over it,  but you do need conviction and change in your life,  friend. We all do.

Lay it down at the feet of Jesus Christ tonight – and exchange your chains for a crown.

You are a Child of God!

You have the Holy Spirit of Christ alive in you!

Wake up!

Rise up!

See the old fall away as you walk in your renewed life,  friend.

In the name of Jesus Christ,  in the authority that is given to Him at the right hand of the Father,  Almighty God, cast away the evil and wickedness from your life –
BE HEALED!
BE REDEEMED!
BE COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST!

Know your purpose!

Know His power!

Stand up!

Walk!

Spread this Good News!

Do not fear man. Do not fear the mockers and the scoffers.

Be the change that this world needs so dearly.

YOU, BE THE CHANGE.

YOU.

ME.