Isaiah was not too happy at being in the heavenly court. It was a terrifying place - marvellous, holy, and yet overpowering. He could hear the seraphs chanting praises to the holiness of God, and he knew that he was a sinful mortal and had no right to be there. Surely he was doomed! But God fixed everything: the seraphs purified him by touching his 'unclean lips' with a burning coal. He was clean. When God asked who would be willing to go on His behalf, Isaiah responded with an eager declaration, 'Here I am; send me!'

Peter had a similar experience. He heard Jesus preaching and teaching from his boat. When Jesus directed them to put down their nets again in a certain place, he was sceptical. They had fished all night and caught nothing, but they did as Jesus directed. The catch of fish was enormous, and Peter was shocked and terrified. Obviously Jesus was a very holy man, perhaps a prophet! He begged Jesus to leave - merely being in his presence made him feel his humanity and sinfulness a little too keenly. Jesus would not hear of it - he even joked a bit. Since you are a fisherman, I will make you fish for people from now on. God chooses ordinary people with all of their weaknesses. We should never, ever, say that we are not worthy. It is the Lord who calls us, and the Lord who makes us worthy. It is all about him, not about us. God does extraordinary things with very ordinary people - even you and me!