Living Anew
Isaiah 6
By Rev. Dr. Versey A Williams, Contributing Writer
It was the year King Uzziah died. Isaiah was going about his day in the Lord’s temple. Many of us have our duties attending to God’s house. Of course, living in the season of COVID, there are fewer people in the building but countless number of people zooming and using many kinds of platforms to connect with each and share the gospel of Christ Jesus.
Bad news and worse news seemed to be the themes throughout 2020. The turn of the calendar gives us more time to right the wrongs or at least decide which changes are necessary. Many of us, like Isaiah, are going about our life with God thinking we are ok. Recently, I reminded my congregation God gives us many chances to renew our relationship with God. We have much in common with Isaiah. We stand in God’s presence daily. We have experiences that allow us to behold God’s majesty and all the while we are men and women of unclean lips. We keep company with folks whose priority is not God. Yet God embraced Isaiah as he was and reminded him of purpose. Some of us are in the church living lives contrary to the gospel. Stop! Receive God’s mercy and grace for yourself, then offer the same to others.
Imagine this. A church (us) who welcomes people just as they are. As an American of African descent, I am always mindful of the stress racism heaps on a person of color. God saw Isaiah’s flaws and imperfections. As a prophet, he knew better! A renewed life is possible when we first acknowledge our human frailties and receive God’s forgiveness and restoration. We offer to others what we can receive from God.
If I let shame, regrets and self-hatred overshadow the promises of God for my life, I will judge others unnecessarily and harshly. Paul says nothing can make God stop loving us (Romans 8:28-39) so why are you condemning you and condemning others? Why should others have to rise to your standards when you are not keeping them yourself? I invite those of us who continue to struggle with shame regrets, and self-hatred to embrace God’s mercy and grace. America’s racism and harsh judgement from God’s church, keeps many people of African descent in hopelessness. People need hope! When God sends people to us, let us love them, uplift them, and help ourselves and them to grow and proposer. Inward fighting and destroying each other is one of the ramifications of systemic racism. Nothing is worse than treating each other the way other folks have treated us. Of course, God expects us to follow God’s precepts and promises. Let us begin now by owning our frailties and let the coals from God’s altar touch our lips and give us renewed hope in our Lord who values us and those whom he gives us. He counts us both precious in God’s sight.
