Naked for Jesus
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Naked for Jesus

I wrote in my journal this morning these words,

Thank you, God for not asking me to walk around naked.

Those words don’t show up often in my prayers but today I needed some perspective.

I am reading through the book of Isaiah and came to a passage that shocked me.

…at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.–Isaiah 20:2 (NKJV)

In the margin of my Bible I wrote,

when God asks for everything–even your dignity

Isaiah had asked God to use him (Isaiah 6).  He had submitted everything to God.  When God asked him to remove his clothes and walk around naked (for 3 years–not just a quick streak around the block), he did it.  When I think about the reality of God’s request, I am amazed at Isaiah’s obedience.

Lordship is hard.  I want it to be easy.  I want to sail through my days without having to fight my against my flesh.  But then there is reality.

Today I’m not sailing…I’m trudging.

I’ve been whining to God lately.  I don’t think He minds.  In fact, I think it is because I’ve come to Him with complete honesty that He brought me to Isaiah 20.  He showed me an example of a servant who was asked to do something much harder than I.

Did Isaiah parade around naked or did he trudge?  The Bible doesn’t say.  The Scripture simply says “And he did so….”

God hasn’t asked me to walk the streets naked and if He did…

…well, let’s just hope He doesn’t.

But God has asked obedience of me and I don’t always want to comply.

Today, I’m saying “yes” to Jesus.  I’m following in the footsteps of Isaiah’s obedience to do as I’m asked and trusting God has a big picture plan that brings glory and honor to His name.

Would you join me in saying “yes” to God in the assignment He has put in front of you today?

 

8 comments found

  1. Your message today really spoke to me!!!!
    1 Samuel 15:22 – “better obey than sacrifice”, even when you sacrifice you still can put some of your own will on it…but when you obey you have to give your will completly to God and do wheterver He requires you to do…and it is so hard to submit our will… but if we finally do, everything works for our good!!!! There is no better place than in the center of God’s will…

    Reply

  2. Wow, friend. I really needed this today. I’m making some tough choices with my staffing and it’s causing some ruffled feathers, and making things difficult. It’s all out of obedience, but it’s still difficult. So today, my mantra is, “Yes, Lord…and thank you for not asking me to walk around naked today.” Love you BA. RF

    Reply

      1. great question. God was showing by Isaiah’s demonstration what would happen if the people didn’t repent. They would be ashamed and their dignity stripped from them.

        Reply

  4. “when God asks for everything – even your dignity”

    Powerful, Bobbi Ann. He is worthy even of that. I remember David getting a little undignified in his worship, much to the dismay of his wife!

    Reply

    1. yes…I thought of David too. The difference (the best I could tell) is that David did it because he was wildly celebrating Jesus. He shed his clothes and got a little crazy! Isaiah on the other hand wasn’t celebrating. He was following instructions. There is a fundamental difference in doing something of your own volition (like its your own idea) and being asked to do it.

      I always do better with carrying out that which fits into my own agenda and ideas. Unfortunately I’m not as good at letting God shoot His ideas at me!

      Reply

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