May 11 -- "Woe is Me!"

 Today's Reading: Isaiah 6 & 7

"Woe is Me!"

There is no escaping the truth that when we see God as He is, we see ourselves as we are. And it is never a pleasant sight. In Isaiah 6, we witness the prophet's profound and raw encounter with the holiness of God. 

Isaiah finds himself in the Temple, beholding the Lord, high and lifted up, surrounded by heavenly beings. In the presence of such majestic glory, Isaiah can't help but acknowledge his own unworthiness, exclaiming, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips."  The contrast between God's holiness and Isaiah's sinfulness is stark and profound, highlighting the vast difference between the Creator and His creation.

God’s holiness means that He is perfectly pure, morally flawless, and completely separate from all sin. He dwells in unapproachable light, and the heavenly beings around His throne continuously proclaim His holiness with the refrain, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3). His holiness is so overwhelming that even the seraphim, celestial beings devoted to worship, cover their faces and feet in His presence.

On the other hand, when Isaiah sees God's holiness, he becomes acutely aware of his own sinfulness. He exclaims, "Woe is me!” recognizing that he falls drastically and hopelessly short of God's perfect standard. As a human, he is tainted by sin, and as a prophet, he has not been immune to sinful thoughts, words, or actions. 

This "woe is me” moment is a crucial and transformative experience that every Christ-follower should encounter in their spiritual journey. It is a moment of profound self-awareness, where we come face to face with the reality of our sinfulness and our desperate need for God's grace and mercy.

This woe is me moment fosters true humility, repentance, dependency on God, gratitude for grace, compassion for others, deeper faith, and a renewed focus on the significance of eternity. It is a step toward a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His grace and mercy. So, approach this process with a heart that is open to change and a desire to draw nearer to God, recognizing that your “woe is me” moment is the start of a glorious transformation from your sinful state into the very image of His holy Son, Jesus Christ.