Calling the Sinner

The first response of anyone called to preach should be in line with the words of Isaiah when he suddenly found himself surrounded with the glory of the Lord.   In the fifth verse of the sixth chapter of the Word which bears the prophet's name, we hear him crying out, "Woe is me!  I am lost, for I am man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips...."   To hear God's call to give spiritual leadership in the church and in the world should drive anyone to the place of unworthiness.  It is never a call to be taken lightly, but with reverence and humility.  

The preacher who comes to the place of standing in behalf of God and ready to speak "Thus says the Lord,"  is one who understands that preaching is not about what I can do, but about what God can do through the preacher and the preaching.  To respond to that call with a sense that it is something which can be done easily enough is a sure sign that the preacher does not really understand the essence of the moment of the calling.  

When God calls a person to preach, He first calls the sinner.  It is the sinner, the one who knows and understands the limitations of human determination and the brokenness of the human heart, who is able to grow into a servant of the One doing the calling.  In the final analysis the call to preach is the call to serve the One who does not ask for excuses, but expects faithfulness to whatever.  It is the call to do divine bidding regardless of the cost of the bidding.  It is not an easy place to stand and many who have started out often end up in a place filled more with human expediency than divine urgency.