This morning, we heard from our Missional Pastor, Matt Hartman, as he continued our sermon series Isaiah’s Voice with a message from Isaiah 6:1–8.

In the first five chapters of Isaiah, we see the spiritual state of Israel—prosperous, yet far from God. Their hearts had turned away from Him. Then, in chapter six, Isaiah is given a stunning vision: he finds himself standing in the presence of the Lord, seated on His throne in the temple. In that moment, Isaiah is overwhelmed—not by the beauty of the vision alone, but by the deep awareness of his own sin. He believes he is undone, unable to survive such holiness.

But then something extraordinary happens. In a foreshadowing of the gospel, a seraph touches Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal from the altar and declares, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (v. 7). It’s a moment of mercy and cleansing. And when the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah responds with a heart transformed: “Here I am. Send me!”

In reading this passage, we can see our own deep need for God, the incredible gift of salvation through Christ, and the willing response that flows from a heart changed by His love.