May 26, 2015: Thankful for Jesus

Prayer:  God, help me to be thankful for your son, Jesus Christ, who takes away my sins.  Amen.    

Reading:  Isaiah 6:1-13 (Click to read text)

Stop and GROW:  After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers.

QUESTION 1:  What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text?
QUESTION 2:  What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story?
QUESTION 3:  What stories or memories does this text stir in me? 
QUESTION 4:  What is God up to in this text? 
 
Reflection:  This passage makes me appreciate Jesus even more than I did before.  Imagine it:  to have your sin and guilt blotted out it took a seraph with a hot coal held by a pair of tongs touching your lips.  Ouch!  I can’t imagine the pain that I’d feel if that happened.  For Memorial Day last night, we were with some friends and made mountain pies.  I touched the hot part of the stick and it hurt- and that was nothing compared to these hot coals on Isaiah’s lips.

This summer, when I’m standing by a campfire, I’ll think of this story.  When I see the hot coals, instead of thinking about how they would make a great cooking fire (which is usually what I do), I’ll instead be reminded about Jesus’ sacrifice for us and be thankful that I don’t have to have hot coals on my lips.  –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director