Isaiah’s Call and Mission

6 In the year that King Uzziah^(A) died, I saw the Lord^(B) seated on a high and lofty^(C) throne,^(D) and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ² Seraphim^[a] were standing above him; they each had six wings:^(E) with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.^{(F) 3} And one called to another:

⁴ The foundations of the doorways shook^(I) at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.

⁸ But God proves^(A) his own love for us^(B) in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁷ “The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(A) because of his great love^(B) that he had for us,^[a]

3 See what great love^[a] the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.

Knowing God through Love

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God^(A) and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us^[a] in this way: God sent^(B) his one and only Son^(C) into the world so that we might live^(D) through him. ¹⁰ Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(E) and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice^[b](F) for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.^{(G) 12} No one has ever seen God.^(H) If we love one another, God remains in^[c] us and his love is made complete in us.