THE MESSAGE OF THE SERAPHIM

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 purged.”  (Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV)

 Each seraph had six wings. "With two he covered his face." Here was reverence, which is one of the noblest traits in character, whether angelic or human. The statesman who beneath human movements set himself to understand the divine purpose. The artist, whether in music, poetry or painting, who discovers a presence which fills him with elevated and pure ideals. The scientist who compares himself to a child gathering pebbles on the shores of a boundless ocean. These resemble the Seraphim with their veiled faces.

"With two they covered their feet"—Self reduction and humility. If we begin to think and talk of ourselves, we prove that we are second-rate. We may be attractive and useful, but we have not attained the first and best. The angels forgot themselves in their absorbing love for God. When shall we forget ourselves in His constraining love, so as not to live to ourselves, but to Him who died for us and rose again!

"With two they did fly"--Obedient service. The third part of our energy should be spent thus. Two-thirds of communion and worship must work themselves out in service, or else we become dreamy mystics. Such life becomes contagious--"One cried to another." There is always a cry going forth from the eager soul which is right with God, and this awakens response in others and stirs them to service. One bird in the woodlands singing at dawn will wake the whole forest to music. The Seraphim declared that the whole earth was full of God's glory!

The prophet saw his need of cleansing: "Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips." We do not need to agonize with God for cleansing, but to open our hearts in confession. Immediately one of the Seraphim will fly to meet our need. No, the Lord Himself will come. This live coal, saturated with blood and steeped in flame, which combines Calvary and Pentecost, has cleansed our iniquity and purged our sin! Then we shall cry: "Here am I; send me." Redeemed, forgiven, and cleansed sinners make the best evangelists!

PRAYER

Give us, Father God, more than an angel's love, for You have redeemed us. Give us the swiftness of an angel's obedience; may we do Your commandments, and hearken to the voice of Your word. Continually cleanse us from all iniquity and purge us from sin, and use us in Your service. In Jesus' name I pray this, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #333:
An everlasting city awaits you, for I am not ashamed to be called your God. 

Hebrews 11:16 (WEB)
But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them.