William Carey is often referred to as ‘the father of modern missions.’ But the number of his accomplishments in India was almost equal to the number of obstacles he overcame just to get there. He was told by a group of ministers, ‘If God wants to save the heathen, young man, He will do it without your help or ours.’ Carey wasn’t a career missionary. He was a young man in poor health with a pregnant wife and small children. He was just like the rest of us - trying to make ends meet and keep life together. But he had something else, a question that he couldn’t stop thinking about: ‘Who will reach the lost in India, if I don’t go?’ Looking back later, Carey realised that the challenges he overcame at home were what qualified him to succeed in his God-given assignment abroad. The same thing happened to Isaiah the prophet. He heard God’s call clearly: ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people”’ (vv. 8-9 NIV). But before Isaiah was qualified to go, he needed a life-changing encounter with God. ‘Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for”’ (vv. 6-7 NIV). God prepared Isaiah for the mission he was sending him on. And when God has a mission for us, He’ll call us and then prepare us to go too. We just need to say yes.

What Now?

Do you sense God preparing you and getting ready to send you to do His calling? If so, say yes today.