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The words above from the Prophet Isaiah, like many prophetic utterances, have a number of applications. They can be directly applied to his role as a major prophet of God to bring Israel back to God with His direct words. They can also be seen when the Word of God took upon Himself the flesh of this world through a mother’s womb and resulted in Jesus’ preaching of the Kingdom of God. But Isaiah was also promised that his words would carry forward into the Christian era for the gentile nations.

In a recent Word of Life (#43 2021) the importance of being a sharpened tool, prepared by His wisdom, and ready for the Lord’s use was highlighted. This prompted a member to share the following poem from the book, ‘From Infidelity to Faith’. The second stanza contains the above words applied to Christians today.

Unfit for Service (L.H.K.E)

One night t’was a Saturday evening, I sat alone in my room,

Watching the faded daylight, And the steadily gathering gloom,

And I longed and watched for an op’ning, A word for the Master to say,

Ere the twilight gave place to darkness and the week had sped away.

I knew that there had been moments afforded me through the week

When I might have witnessed for Jesus, But I hadn’t the heart to speak.

And now when I would have spoken, The privilege was denied.

So I went, in my sorrow, to Jesus, ‘And why is this?’ I cried.

Ah! the Master knew all about it, So He said, and I knew it was right,

‘The tool is too blunt for service: I cannot use it tonight.”

Oh! Christian, learn well this lesson; We can only be used by God

When communion with Him has fashioned our mouths like a sharpened sword.

The shaft to be used must be polished, And hid in the Master’s hand;

The arrow while hid in the quiver, Must be sharp to do His command.

Then polish and sharpen me, Master, Though painful the process may be;

And make me an instrument fitted, To be used any moment by Thee.

From our mother’s womb the Lord has called His children in this era of Grace to testify of HIM. It is by submitting ourselves to God’s purpose for our life that we can become ‘fit to serve’.