Day 6

“Woe is me, for I am undone!”—Isaiah 6:5

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken.”—Luke 5:8-9

The Book of Isaiah describes how the prophet is ushered into the Divine Court and witnesses scenes so awesome it leaves him undone. There he is commissioned to prophesy the lawsuits of the court to a recalcitrant people.

Peter witnesses the miraculous catch of fish and falls at the feet of Christ begging Him to leave. There he is commissioned to “catch men” instead.

God shook both men to the core of their being by an encounter with His power and presence. That shaking must precede any commissioning. For the purpose of commissioning is to shake a world hardened by sin. And any commissioning that lacks such an encounter will not long endure the obstinate hearts of humankind, and will, in fact, be blunted and dulled by its constant resistance.

Any true encounter with God will do these two things: it will leave you broken by His power and stirred to do His bidding. You cannot have a real encounter with His presence and remain the same.

Like Jacob wrestling with the messenger of God, you will come away with a limp and a blessing. You arrive as Jacob at Jabbok, but leave as Israel from Peniel.

A bush that burned unending turned aside a different shepherd. But the presence and power of God commissioned him with holy apostolic fire—a fire that ignited a people and seared the heart of Pharaoh.

“Woe is me, for I am undone!” Has an encounter with Christ left you echoing the prophet’s words? Then perhaps it is time to turn aside and wrestle with God.

Prayer Topics: Prophetic Lawsuits; Seeking His Presence; Wrestling with God; Commissioning; Shaking the World.