Called Despite Inadequacies: Embracing God's Grace

Devotional

Day 1: God Equips the Called

In the stories of Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, we see individuals who felt unworthy of God's call. Isaiah felt unclean in the presence of God, Peter was overwhelmed by his own sinfulness, and Paul was burdened by his past as a persecutor of the church. Yet, God chose each of them for significant roles in His plan. This teaches us that our perceived inadequacies do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, God equips and purifies us for the tasks He sets before us. We are reminded that God does not call the perfect but perfects the called. [28:18]

Isaiah 6:6-7 (ESV): "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"

Reflection: What feelings of inadequacy are holding you back from answering God's call? How can you trust God to equip you for the tasks He has set before you today?

Day 2: Stepping into Leadership

In today's world, there is a void of true leaders who speak truth to power and lead with integrity. We are challenged to step into these roles, not as perfect individuals, but as those willing to be used by God to bring about change and justice. The call is not to perfection but to faithfulness, to be willing to say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me." This requires courage and a willingness to trust that God will provide the strength and resources needed for the journey. [24:50]

1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV): "And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you being called to step up as a leader? How can you begin to speak truth and lead with integrity today?

Day 3: Embracing Transformation through Grace

Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle highlights the power of God's grace. Despite our past mistakes, God's grace is sufficient, and we are called to embrace it and not let it go to waste. Paul recognized his past but did not let it define him. Instead, he embraced the grace offered to him and committed to living a life that reflected that grace. This is a powerful reminder that no matter our past, we can be transformed by God's grace and live a life of purpose and commitment. [31:11]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: What past mistakes are you allowing to hold you back? How can you embrace God's grace and allow it to transform your life today?

Day 4: Responding to God's Call

Like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, we are invited to respond to God's call with willingness and courage. Our response should be, "Here I am, Lord. Send me," trusting that God will provide the strength and resources needed for the journey. This requires a heart open to God's leading and a willingness to step out in faith, even when the path is uncertain. We are reminded that God equips those He calls and that our willingness to respond is what matters most. [33:51]

Acts 9:15-16 (ESV): "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'"

Reflection: How is God calling you to step out in faith today? What is one step you can take to respond to His call with courage and willingness?

Day 5: The Inclusive Table of Grace

The communion table symbolizes the inclusivity of God's grace, where all are welcome. It reminds us that God's love transcends barriers and invites us to partake in His blessings, regardless of our backgrounds or circumstances. This is a powerful reminder of the unity and grace available to all, and it challenges us to reflect on where God is calling us in our lives, to love, to seek justice, and to take risks in faith. We are encouraged to embrace this inclusivity and extend it to others in our daily lives. [47:05]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: How can you extend the inclusivity of God's grace to those around you today? What barriers can you break down to show God's love and unity in your community?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of feeling unworthy and how God calls us despite our perceived inadequacies. We began by reflecting on the beauty of creation and the joy of community, acknowledging the blessings of life and the opportunities to grow in faith. We celebrated the birthdays of Ken and Bryce, and gave thanks for Jim's return home, praying for guidance in our church's mission and for peace in our nation amidst its challenges.

The heart of our reflection centered on the stories of Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, each of whom felt unworthy of God's call. Isaiah, in the presence of God, felt doomed and unclean, yet God purified him and called him to be a prophet. Peter, overwhelmed by a miraculous catch of fish, felt sinful and inadequate, yet Jesus called him to be a fisher of people. Paul, who once persecuted the church, recognized his past mistakes but embraced God's grace, declaring his commitment to not let it go to waste. These stories remind us that God does not call the perfect but perfects the called.

We also discussed the current landscape of leadership, both in the church and beyond, lamenting the lack of true prophets and leaders who speak truth to power. We are challenged to step into these roles, despite our fears and excuses, trusting that God equips us for the tasks at hand. The call is not to perfection but to faithfulness, to be willing to say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."

As we concluded, we were reminded of the inclusive nature of God's table, where all are welcome to partake in communion, symbolizing the unity and grace available to all. We are encouraged to reflect on where God is calling us in our lives, to love, to seek justice, and to take risks in faith, knowing that God's grace is sufficient for our journey.

Key Takeaways

1. God Calls the Unworthy: Isaiah, Peter, and Paul each felt unworthy of God's call, yet they were chosen to fulfill significant roles in God's plan. This teaches us that our perceived inadequacies do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, God equips and purifies us for the tasks He sets before us. [28:18]
2. The Need for True Leadership: In today's world, there is a void of true leaders who speak truth to power and lead with integrity. We are called to step into these roles, not as perfect individuals, but as those willing to be used by God to bring about change and justice. [24:50]
3. Embracing God's Grace: Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle highlights the power of God's grace. Despite our past mistakes, God's grace is sufficient, and we are called to embrace it and not let it go to waste. [31:11]
4. Answering God's Call: Like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, we are invited to respond to God's call with willingness and courage. Our response should be, "Here I am, Lord. Send me," trusting that God will provide the strength and resources needed for the journey. [33:51]
5. The Inclusive Table of God: The communion table symbolizes the inclusivity of God's grace, where all are welcome. It reminds us that God's love transcends barriers and invites us to partake in His blessings, regardless of our backgrounds or circumstances. [47:05]
** [47:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:24] - Bible Study and Announcements
[15:07] - Opening Prayer and Thanksgiving
[16:47] - Prayers for Community and Nation
[21:45] - Feeling Unworthy
[22:44] - The Call of Isaiah
[23:57] - Critique of Modern Preachers
[24:50] - The Need for True Leaders
[27:43] - Isaiah's Vision
[28:18] - Peter's Encounter with Jesus
[29:59] - Paul's Reflection on Grace
[31:11] - Embracing God's Call
[33:51] - We Are the Prophets
[34:47] - Overcoming Excuses
[35:38] - Confession and Communion
[47:05] - Closing and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

"God, we give you thanks for this day and for the joy that it is to come together, to worship together, to be a part of something greater than ourselves. We give you praise for the beauty of the weather we've been having lately and for the joy that we feel that spring is on the horizon and we look forward to the ways that things are sprouting up in the world, in the world around us, in your creation." [00:15:07]

"And God, we pray that things would sprout up in us and that we would be able to do that. That we would grow and that we would would be who you would have us to be. God, we give you thanks for for the birthdays for Ken and for Bryce and for the joy that it is to celebrate together. And we give you thanks that Jim is home and that he is able to continue his work, even though he's not home." [00:15:42]

"Because every single person that God calls in today's scriptures had that same reaction. Not me, God. You made a mistake. You picked the wrong person. In 2006, pastor and professor Marvin McMickle examined the sad state of the lamentable, landscaped of preachers in the United States. And he saw preachers who had become so narrow-minded and had become promoters of a cultural war. They were passive." [00:22:44]

"modern-day prophet that they really are speaking truth to power and rallying the rest of us behind and I think that probably in the history of prophets when we look at the Bible there are very few prophets that when they spoke out when they spoke against the great power that the people didn't go what do you think you are I'm not following that they start calling each other out or calling out the prophet because the prophet is saying something they don't want to hear" [00:24:56]

"Perhaps what really is going on is that like you and like me, all of these prophets and all of these leaders, these would-be prophets and would-be leaders are saying, No, no, no, no, that's not me. In Isaiah 6, which was read to us, the prophet has a vision of the Lord on a lofty throne in the very room, the presence of God, like the room shakes with the presence of God." [00:27:43]

"And then in Luke, chapter 5, that Natalie read for us, Peter's minding his own business, running his little fishing business, it's all good, he's probably tired, he's probably grumpy, he's ready to go home, take a nap, he's had an unsuccessful night, and we all know what it's like, right? When we've been working on something for a long time, and it just won't work." [00:28:33]

"And then, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is reflecting on his past, and his persecution of the church. And he's confessing, I don't deserve to be included in the inner circle. I don't deserve to be included in the inner circle. Because I spent all those years, all my early years, trying my best to stamp out God's church. Stamp it right out of existence." [00:29:59]

"Isaiah's lips, are touched, I'm assuming metaphorically here, right? By a burning coal, as a means to cleanse his mouth, his lips, to make his words not blasphemous. To make his words more pure, to make his words what God would have coming out of his mouth. Peter is told that he will fish for people instead of fishing for fish." [00:30:46]

"When Isaiah hears the voice of God saying, Whom shall I send? He could have sat silently and not responded. He could have been so convinced of his unworthiness that he did not answer. When Peter was overwhelmed by the miraculous catch, he could have just stayed in the boat. When Paul looked at his past, he could have decided that God would never, ever use him." [00:32:28]

"as we may not want it, as much as we may think that it's not us, as much as we may want that it's not us, it is us. In the 1970s, there was a cartoon that was published. Pogo was the cartoon. Anybody heard of this cartoon? It was actually, I think, 1971, and it was in the first observance of Earth Day." [00:33:51]

"who love him all who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another therefore let us confess our sin before God and one another merciful God you call us but we hesitate you invite us but we make excuses we see our flaws instead of your grace our fears instead of your strength forgive us when we doubt your ability to use us cleanse our hearts renew our spirits and give us the courage to say here I am Lord send me in Jesus name we pray amen amen I invite you to spend time talking with God about whatever it is you need to talk with God about" [00:39:58]

"it is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere and give thanks to you Almighty God creator of heaven and earth god of hope and grief god of power and strength god of the widow and the orphan god of the imprisoned and the impoverished god of the poor in spirit the merciful and the mourning god who sees the proud and the arrogant god who does not forget those who turn away from the one in need the god who waits to be greeted in prison in hunger in hospitals and in the on the corner god who grieves the worst spoken and hate and the action that excludes you are the one true God and it is your gift and right duty to call upon us it is our gift and right to need to call upon you here we praise you for your faithfulness in history we praise you for your prophets who have shouted the truth who praise you for your saving action in leaders in the church in the community and for what you have done for us in human race and in the world and in the world of you have done sometimes in spite of them with all faithful people of Christ with all your children across the world and all the Saints we name now the whole creation we praise your name and join their unending hymn holy holy holy Lord God of power and light heaven and earth are full of your glory Hosanna in the highest blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest God with our sighs too deep for words we come to this table and we remember a time when it has been closed we remember when the invitation was not open to all and we remember when the feast was in part but not in whole with gratitude and Thanksgiving we celebrate that our bodies" [00:41:30]

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