Day 18

Of all the prophets, Isaiah is quoted the most in the New Testament. The apostle John mentions that Isaiah “saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him.”

Imagine that! Isaiah saw Jesus sitting on His heavenly throne over 700 years before He was born! In this awe-filled moment, he became fully aware that he, one of the greatest prophets who ever lived, just didn’t measure up.

When he saw Jesus, Isaiah cried, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah was remembering and regretting things he had said and done that didn’t come anywhere near God’s holiness.

And yet, our gracious God did not leave Isaiah without hope! God immediately sent a messenger to Isaiah, reminding him that his guilt was taken away and his sin atoned for.

Like Isaiah, we can feel the same way at times—ruined, with unclean lips—simply because it’s true. We remember that sinking feeling when we've said words we wish we could retract, startled that something so hurtful could come out of our mouths. We remember when someone’s life could have been restored had we only dared to speak up, but we faltered instead.

The Bible says that none of us are good; without a Savior, we wouldn’t have a leg to stand on before God. Like Isaiah, we remember and regret the wrong things we did. We wish we could rewind the clock and choose a different path, but we just can’t. And some memories that cause regret may not even be our fault, but we carry the pain of those memories, making us feel unworthy or unclean.

What a powerful promise of hope we have, therefore, when we recognize that we are made righteous by the blood that Jesus shed for us. Like Isaiah, our guilt is taken away, and our sin is atoned for.

The truth is that God loves you. It’s why Jesus came, and it’s why we celebrate His birth. Emmanuel. God with us.

Action Step: Take a moment to thank God that your past is not more powerful than God’s love and grace. Choose to forgive anyone who has hurt you, and invite God to replace any lies you’ve believed about yourself with the truth that He always loves you and is always with you. Thank Him that Jesus has made you worthy and righteous before our kind Father.