Here Am I, Send Me

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;

Keep on looking, but do not understand.’

“Render the hearts of this people insensitive,

Their ears dull,

And their eyes dim,

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

Understand with their hearts,

And return and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:8-10 NASB1995)

All of us who believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord (Owner-Master) and Savior of our lives are called of God to be his witnesses in taking the message of the gospel of Christ to the people of the world, even to others who profess faith in Jesus Christ but who are not living what they claim to believe. And we are to make disciples (followers) of Christ of people of all nations, teaching them to put sin to death, by the Spirit, and to obey all that our Lord commands. 

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:23-26; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 10:14-15; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:21,29; 1 John 2:6] 

And we who are followers of Jesus Christ, as his disciples, should be those who will answer the call of God to go into all the world and to make disciples of Christ of people of all nations, teaching them to obey our Lord’s commands. But it isn’t just to the unsaved that we are to speak the words of God and to give out his messages. But it is also to the church and to many who profess the name of Jesus but who are living worldly lives.

And sometimes we must speak some pretty strong words because they are dull of hearing, and they are not listening to the Lord and to his messengers. But they are going their own way, doing their own thing, without regard for the teachings of the Scriptures and for the warnings given by God should any of us choose to go our own way and not the ways of God. And so we must give them the warnings of God should they reject his teachings.

And sometimes sarcasm is used in the Scriptures to bring home a point such as what I believe is the case here in verse 9. For certainly the speaker is not encouraging the people to not perceive and to not understand, but this language is used to get across a message. And it is to let them know that if they continue on their chosen course of not listening, and of not paying attention, and being unwilling to understand, it will not go well for them.

And the result is found in verse 10, for again God’s message to the people is not that God approves of them going their own way and doing their own thing while ignoring God and his commands, as though they will not face his wrath. But he has his messenger speaking the truth of God’s Word to the people even knowing that they will not listen and that they will close their minds and hearts to the truth and that they will not repent and so be healed.

Thus, the people cannot claim that they never heard the truth, or that they were ignorant, as though no one had told them. So, as the Lord’s servants and messengers, we should continue in giving out the truth of God’s Word to the people, even to those we know are not listening right now, because God’s Word will not return empty, but it will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which God sent it (see Isaiah 55:11).

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For lip service alone will not secure you heaven, but you must obey God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

Then, when I answered the call,

“Here, Lord, send me.”

You sent me to where I must be.

Your mercy held me, did not fail me.

All this, You had planned, to use me.

And, when all trials and scorn

Came to test me.

You gave me all that I would need.

You strengthened me so I’d not fail You.

Your kindness blessed me, it touched me.

And, when I needed the church 

To lift up me,

To hearten me so I’d not fail,

You blessed me with folks who would love me.

Their presence with me, Your praise hailed!

Here Am I, Send Me

An Original Work / February 23, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love