Answering God's Call with a Willing Heart

Daily R.E.A.P. Report for Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
Answering God’s Call with a Willing Heart

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“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.’” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

Isaiah prophesied to Judah in the 8th century BC during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—a turbulent time of moral compromise, looming Assyrian threat, and spiritual drift. Chapter 6 records Isaiah’s calling “in the year that King Uzziah died” (around 740 BC). Isaiah sees the Lord exalted, hears the seraphim cry “Holy, holy, holy,” and is overwhelmed by his unclean lips. God graciously purifies him with a coal from the altar—then asks for a messenger. Isaiah’s “Here I am! Send me” becomes the pivot from cleansing to calling. This matters because the God who saves also sends; He cleanses our past and commissions our future.

Examine

God invites cleansed people into His mission. The call follows mercy: Isaiah is forgiven before he is sent. God seeks willing hearts more than perfect résumés. Saying “Here I am” is not a boast of ability, but an offering of availability. Even when the task is hard (Isaiah’s message was often rejected), faithfulness to God’s voice bears fruit in His timing.

Connection to Jesus: Jesus is the Sent One from the Father (John 20:21), and He sends us in the same spirit. John 12:41 teaches that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory—linking this throne-room vision to Christ Himself. Jesus models perfect obedience: He hears the Father’s will and says a continual “Yes.” By His cross, He purifies us (like the burning coal) and by His Spirit He commissions us to go with His authority and compassion (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8).

Main Themes:
- Holiness and Mercy: God’s holy presence exposes sin, yet His mercy cleanses and restores.
- Calling and Mission: God invites ordinary people to carry His message to others.
- Availability over Ability: God works through a willing “Here I am” more than flawless skill.

Key Word Study:
- “Here I am” (Hebrew: hinneni): A response of presence and readiness—“Behold me; I am fully available.” It conveys attentive surrender, not merely location.
- “Send” (Hebrew: shalach): To commission or dispatch with authority and purpose. Being “sent” means we carry God’s message, not our own, in God’s power, not our own.

Apply

Reflective Questions:
- Where is God inviting me to say, “Here I am”—in my relationships, work, church, or neighborhood?
- What fears or excuses keep me from availability, and how might God’s mercy free me to obey?
- Who is one person God may be sending me to love, encourage, or share hope with this week?

Real-Life Application:
- Pray a Daily “Yes”: Each morning, hold out your hands and pray, “Lord, here I am—send me to the person who needs Your love today.” Watch for nudges: a name, a need, an interruption.
- Identify One Assignment: Choose one concrete act—encourage a discouraged coworker, call a family member, volunteer for a simple role at church, or offer to pray with someone who’s struggling.
- Carry the Message, Not the Burden: Prepare a 30-second testimony of God’s goodness and one verse of hope (e.g., Psalm 34:18). Keep it simple and Spirit-led.

Pray

Holy Lord, You are glorious, sovereign, and worthy of my whole life. Thank You for Your mercy that cleanses my “unclean lips” and makes me fit for Your service. I confess my reluctance, fear, and the times I’ve said “Send someone else.” By the blood of Jesus, forgive me and renew my courage. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, sharpen my ears to Your voice, and send me to the person and place You choose today. Give me words that heal, hands that serve, and a heart that obeys. Make my life a living “Here I am” to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Reflection: Picture yourself at the temple threshold with coal-warmed lips, hearing God’s question rise like a holy echo: “Whom shall I send?” As you step forward, feel the gentle wind of the Spirit at your back. Your simple “Here I am” becomes a doorway for heaven’s love to touch the earth.

Call to Action: Write “Here I am! Send me” where you’ll see it today. Within the next 24 hours, take one concrete step—send the text, set the coffee meeting, sign up to serve, or offer to pray. Remember: the God who cleanses you also goes with you.