The Holy Seed

* Baked Pumpkin Seeds

 Isaiah’s Commission

6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

⁹ He said, “Go and tell this people:

¹³ And though a tenth remains in the land,
    it will again be laid waste.
But as the terebinth and oak
    leave stumps when they are cut down,
    so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

The Holy Seed
(Isaiah 6:1-9, 13)

Hodgdon UMC | 11.17.24

 

<A Seed Surrounded by Strings>

A few weeks ago, the children in our after-school program were carving pumpkins from Perry and Paula’s farm. Normally, I’d scoop out the insides—orange flesh, sticky pulp, seeds, and all those little strings—and toss it all away. But this time, some volunteers saved the seeds for me. They suggested I could bake them.

I hesitated. Last year, I tried baking pumpkin seeds, but it didn’t go well. I didn’t want to touch these slimy guts, but I followed their instructions—lots of salt, butter, and the right temperature. Success! The seeds that seemed like trash became a healthy, tasty snack.

It reminded me of what God does with us. Sometimes, we feel like the messy insides of a pumpkin—mistakes, weaknesses, and sins make us feel worthless. Last week I heard the very sad news that one girl lost her desire to live with those feelings. When families break apart or life feels too hard, we lose hope and even want to give up. But God sees us differently. He sees the seed of potential inside us. Then He adds His “salt and butter” and uses the heat of life’s challenges to transform us into something good like a healthy snack. It’s still pumpkin seed, but it become the new seed. There are three steps for God to help us grow: see the seed, experience transformation, and become the new seed.

 

<Isaiah’s three steps>

Isaiah 6 starts with sad news: King Uzziah, who ruled Judah for 52 years, had died. He was a good king, known for success and stability. They lost their leader and faced an uncertain future. The people were grieving and scared for the future. Isaiah went to the temple to pray. As Isaiah prayed, God let him see the seed of a vision. He saw the Lord sitting on a high throne. The hem of God’s robe filled the temple. Angels with six wings flew around, calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” The temple shook, and it filled with smoke. Isaiah saw the seed of God’s holiness and glory which was bigger than all strings of fear from an uncertain future.

Think of other times in the Bible when God appeared in fire or smoke: the covenant with Abraham, the burning bush for Moses, the pillar of fire in the wilderness, the fire that stirred the hearts of two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the flames at Pentecost. Each time, people were awed and humbled by God’s holiness.

Isaiah was no different. He saw God’s glory and cried out, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips.” He recognized his unworthiness, just like people throughout church history, whose spiritual awakenings began with repentance.

 But then, an angel flew to him with a live coal from the altar. The angel touched Isaiah’s lips and said, “Your guilt is gone, and your sin is forgiven.”

Richard Foster once said, “A live coal is a fire because it is associated with fire, but it still remains wood.” God doesn’t erase who we are. Instead, He reshapes us, making us new without taking away our individuality. Isaiah was transformed.

After that, God asked, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah answered, “Here am I. Send me!” He became the new seed, ready to share God’s message.

Isaiah told the people of Israel that they would face judgment because of their sins. But God promised hope: there would be “The Holy seed” that would remain (Isaiah 6:13). Just as God made Isaiah the new seed, He would make others the holy seed.

 

<My three Steps>

I had a similar experience in high school. I was the leader of a Christian club at a public school. It was a tough school, and I struggled with my studies. I asked, “God, why did You send me here?” Now I know some of my children ask the same question right now.

At first, I couldn’t see any purpose. I felt surrounded by stress, fear, and challenges—like strings choking the seed. Then I prayed. God showed me that many of my classmates were lost and hurting. They were depressed and hopeless. God gave me a vision to reach them.

There was already a weekly worship service every Thursday. But during one service, I felt God calling our Christian club to organize a worship concert for the public school festival. It seemed impossible. However, I saw the seed of God’s vision. God helped us with the worship concerts one by one. But just before the concert, my friends who were helping tried to quit. They felt I was micromanaging. I didn’t realize I was pushing too hard. I prayed, repented, and admitted my mistakes. My friends saw the seed of passion for Christ surrounded by my mistakes and weaknesses. They forgave me and gave me one more chance. That was my moment of transformation. It was like a live coal. It was painful, and not fun, but a necessary process for transformation. The concert was a success! Christian principals, teachers, staff, and over 100 students attended, and we felt God’s presence strongly. Years later, a friend told me that our worship services including the worship concert had saved her life. We became the new seed to show her the seed of God’s vision for her life. She became a seminary student as the Holy Seed!

Recently, I felt surrounded by strings of fear, challenges, and uncertainty again. I wanted to give up with all kinds of excuses. But instead, I chose to pray.

During prayer, God reminded me of the seed of His vision: “Resettle the ruined cities through the truth that sets you free” (Isaiah 54:2-3; John 8:32). This has been my life’s motto since high school.

God helped me remember how He has transformed me, my family, and our churches. He took our brokenness and made us the new seed—restored and ready to grow for His glory!

 

<Our three Steps>

Last week, our family watched the movie The Lost on a Mountain in Maine. It’s about a twelve-year-old boy named Donn Fendler, who got lost on Mount Katahdin. He was surrounded by a fast-moving storm, cold, hunger, and fear. He had no proper clothing or food.

But Donn had the seed of hope. For nine days, he persevered, holding on to that hope. When he was found, he was transformed. He had become a new person—a boy who could say, “I love you, Dad,” with a grateful heart.

Where are we today? What do we see? Are we feeling surrounded by pain—family arguments, mental struggles, sickness, anger, blame, doubt, or challenges?

Why not kneel and pray? When we pray, God shows us the seed of His vision. He reminds us that He is not just in heaven but also here with us. His robe fills our space. His voice shakes our situation. His presence fills our hearts like smoke filling the temple.

When we encounter God’s holiness, it moves us to repentance. He cleanses our hearts. He transforms us, using His “salt, butter, and heat.”

Today, God asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Can you answer like Isaiah, “Here am I; send me”?

God will make us the new seed—the holy seed for your family, your church, and your community. May we see His vision, be transformed by His holiness, and be called His Holy seed.