“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)
Many decades ago, I read a story about a pastor who interviewed thousands of people about their beliefs in God. One of the first questions he asked was, “Who is God and What is God like?” The responses he received were eye-opening. Some saw God as a far-off Judge who kept count of your mistakes, then punished you for them. Some saw God as the deity who would send people not only to heaven but hell. Because of this, they feared even talking about him. More than two-thirds of the people interviewed saw God using these terms, “Judgmental, Creator of the Universe, Other-worldly, Distant, One who demands obedience, One never to mess around with, One who watches you day and night, One who can end your life in an instant, and Judge of the Living and the Dead”. Put together, all these people saw God mainly as a figure who judged you or looked for you to make mistakes but didn’t really love you or want a relationship with you. In simpler terms, they saw God as a Mean Eternal Father who was ready in an instant to punish people for any infraction, even sending them to hell on a whim.
Every pastor I spoke with about the findings of these interviews had the same reaction. That is not the God we worship! That is not characteristic of Jesus Christ, nor the Heavenly Father! Today’s scripture sheds a little light to dispel the myth that God is just a vengeful Judge, that God loves to punish people, and that God doesn’t mind making people suffer or sending them to hell.
The scripture for today does a lot to dispel judgmentally skewed views of God. While God is Creator and ultimate Judge, God is also our Savior, Redeemer, Provider, giver of hope, and deliverer of blessings. God doesn’t love to see people suffer. God doesn’t enjoy sending people to Hell. John 3:16 even tells us that Jesus was sent by the Heavenly Father because “God so loved the world” that He sent Jesus “that whoever believes in Him shall perish but have everlasting life!” God saves, redeems, and cherishes life. Isaiah 57:15 reiterates this about God. It notes that although God who is “high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy” is the same God who desires to be with the ‘contrite and lowly spirit”. God seeks to “revive the heart of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite”. Our God is a God who reaches out to be with those who have been beaten up by the world. God endeavors to reach out to the oppressed and lost: to protect them, revive them, and save them.
Isaiah 57:15 shows that God watches over the faithful soul that is “contrite” and “lowly”. According to the Greek, a contrite or lowly person has been beaten up by life. That person might be sickly, persecuted, suffering, ignored, or oppressed. That person might be the guy who never seems to get ahead, the person who struggles just to put food on the table, the kid that is picked on, or the teen who feels insecure. God cares for those the world overlooks, makes fun of, or considers less worthy. When the lowly or contrite one is in need, God takes notice. When that beaten-down soul cries out to God, God hears.
Our God has a loving character. God wants to save, to protect, to reach out… especially to those who are “lowly and contrite”, beaten down or branded worthless. Dozens of scriptures of the Bible explain how God has a special heart for widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22, Malachi 3:5, James 1:27, etc.). God rescued slaves in Egypt (Exodus)! Jesus healed people who were blind from birth, lame, and afflicted (Matthew 15:30). I could go on for hours at how God watched over and blessed the lowly and contrite who reached out to heaven with cries and needs.
Today, you can view evidence of God’s continued blessing of those who have been faithful despite their handicaps. One man who lost both legs preaches at hospitals about how Jesus saved his life and brings him joy. A woman whose husband was murdered not only forgives the murderer but begs for God to forgive his sin. There is a World War Two Japanese fighter pilot who had so many injuries, he lost the ability to fly. He felt worthless as his country deteriorated and was utterly defeated in the war. After the war, he was introduced to the gospel. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he began to preach about his salvation in Jesus. He changed thousands of lives. I could mention millions of people who have lost a loved one, been deformed, lost eyesight, been homeless, gone hungry… only to be touched by God and rescued in Christ. Why? God loves to save and rescue the lowly and contrite!
There is one common trait that contrite people have that many do not have. They have experienced rejection. Their pride is just about gone. Their self-worth is lagging. They don’t have a lot of successes or worth in the eyes of others. Despite all these negatives, they have a great positive going for them. They may find it much easier to choose God, rely on God, trust God, obey God, and listen for God. Pridefulness and worldly successes have a way of getting in the way of seeing and believing in God’s saving grace. These lowly and contrite people don’t have much, but they can have a profound faith in God that makes all the difference!
When you feel rather lost, alone, hurting, suffering, in pain, without friends, without successes, without a job, hungry, depressed, or worthless….. remember that you are the one God is especially looking to be with. If you are contrite and look to God, God will come to you. You are the one God wants to protect. All you have to do is trust in God with your whole heart and the blessings of God will flow! You’ll see. I have no doubt.
I end with Jesus’ own words, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost….” (Luke 19:10) Are you feeling kind of lost today? Jesus will seek you out! Do you know someone who is down? Pray they may reach out in faith and obedience to the Lord! Are you aware of a person whose eyes have been bloodshot from tears? Love them enough to lead them to God in Christ!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
In the name of Jesus, I speak this prayer to my loving God! I am blessed to be Your servant! I feel joyful to have been chosen to be a follower of Jesus! May I always be obedient to You, Lord! May I only seek to do Your will!
Today, I pray for the suffering in our world. Many do not even realize that they are precious in Your sight. May they look to You for protection. May they remain steadfast with conviction that You hear their prayers. Bless these faithful ones, dear Lord. Help them to rise above their trials, overcome their temptations, and find their holy purpose. Remind them of Your love. Direct their steps toward faithful paths. Guard against those who would oppress and manipulate them.
I thank You for Jesus. His saving grace changes how I view life. His commitment to the gospel message is inspiring. His sacrifice on that cross reminds me that sin is real and forgiveness is crucial to an obedient life. May I never overlook another person based on their weaknesses. May I not judge another person based on his or her possessions or looks. Help me to see past outward appearances and into the souls of others. Help me to envision Your will in real-time.
I pray today for the homeless veteran who still experiences the effects of war. I pray for the woman who lost her child. I pray for the father who struggles so hard to feed his family. I pray for all those who have been beaten down by the world, that they may find a place in Your Kingdom!
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Every pastor I spoke with about the findings of these interviews had the same reaction. That is not the God we worship! That is not characteristic of Jesus Christ, nor the Heavenly Father! Today’s scripture sheds a little light to dispel the myth that God is just a vengeful Judge, that God loves to punish people, and that God doesn’t mind making people suffer or sending them to hell.
The scripture for today does a lot to dispel judgmentally skewed views of God. While God is Creator and ultimate Judge, God is also our Savior, Redeemer, Provider, giver of hope, and deliverer of blessings. God doesn’t love to see people suffer. God doesn’t enjoy sending people to Hell. John 3:16 even tells us that Jesus was sent by the Heavenly Father because “God so loved the world” that He sent Jesus “that whoever believes in Him shall perish but have everlasting life!” God saves, redeems, and cherishes life. Isaiah 57:15 reiterates this about God. It notes that although God who is “high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy” is the same God who desires to be with the ‘contrite and lowly spirit”. God seeks to “revive the heart of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite”. Our God is a God who reaches out to be with those who have been beaten up by the world. God endeavors to reach out to the oppressed and lost: to protect them, revive them, and save them.
Isaiah 57:15 shows that God watches over the faithful soul that is “contrite” and “lowly”. According to the Greek, a contrite or lowly person has been beaten up by life. That person might be sickly, persecuted, suffering, ignored, or oppressed. That person might be the guy who never seems to get ahead, the person who struggles just to put food on the table, the kid that is picked on, or the teen who feels insecure. God cares for those the world overlooks, makes fun of, or considers less worthy. When the lowly or contrite one is in need, God takes notice. When that beaten-down soul cries out to God, God hears.
Our God has a loving character. God wants to save, to protect, to reach out… especially to those who are “lowly and contrite”, beaten down or branded worthless. Dozens of scriptures of the Bible explain how God has a special heart for widows and orphans (Exodus 22:22, Malachi 3:5, James 1:27, etc.). God rescued slaves in Egypt (Exodus)! Jesus healed people who were blind from birth, lame, and afflicted (Matthew 15:30). I could go on for hours at how God watched over and blessed the lowly and contrite who reached out to heaven with cries and needs.
Today, you can view evidence of God’s continued blessing of those who have been faithful despite their handicaps. One man who lost both legs preaches at hospitals about how Jesus saved his life and brings him joy. A woman whose husband was murdered not only forgives the murderer but begs for God to forgive his sin. There is a World War Two Japanese fighter pilot who had so many injuries, he lost the ability to fly. He felt worthless as his country deteriorated and was utterly defeated in the war. After the war, he was introduced to the gospel. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he began to preach about his salvation in Jesus. He changed thousands of lives. I could mention millions of people who have lost a loved one, been deformed, lost eyesight, been homeless, gone hungry… only to be touched by God and rescued in Christ. Why? God loves to save and rescue the lowly and contrite!
There is one common trait that contrite people have that many do not have. They have experienced rejection. Their pride is just about gone. Their self-worth is lagging. They don’t have a lot of successes or worth in the eyes of others. Despite all these negatives, they have a great positive going for them. They may find it much easier to choose God, rely on God, trust God, obey God, and listen for God. Pridefulness and worldly successes have a way of getting in the way of seeing and believing in God’s saving grace. These lowly and contrite people don’t have much, but they can have a profound faith in God that makes all the difference!
When you feel rather lost, alone, hurting, suffering, in pain, without friends, without successes, without a job, hungry, depressed, or worthless….. remember that you are the one God is especially looking to be with. If you are contrite and look to God, God will come to you. You are the one God wants to protect. All you have to do is trust in God with your whole heart and the blessings of God will flow! You’ll see. I have no doubt.
I end with Jesus’ own words, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost….” (Luke 19:10) Are you feeling kind of lost today? Jesus will seek you out! Do you know someone who is down? Pray they may reach out in faith and obedience to the Lord! Are you aware of a person whose eyes have been bloodshot from tears? Love them enough to lead them to God in Christ!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
In the name of Jesus, I speak this prayer to my loving God! I am blessed to be Your servant! I feel joyful to have been chosen to be a follower of Jesus! May I always be obedient to You, Lord! May I only seek to do Your will!
Today, I pray for the suffering in our world. Many do not even realize that they are precious in Your sight. May they look to You for protection. May they remain steadfast with conviction that You hear their prayers. Bless these faithful ones, dear Lord. Help them to rise above their trials, overcome their temptations, and find their holy purpose. Remind them of Your love. Direct their steps toward faithful paths. Guard against those who would oppress and manipulate them.
I thank You for Jesus. His saving grace changes how I view life. His commitment to the gospel message is inspiring. His sacrifice on that cross reminds me that sin is real and forgiveness is crucial to an obedient life. May I never overlook another person based on their weaknesses. May I not judge another person based on his or her possessions or looks. Help me to see past outward appearances and into the souls of others. Help me to envision Your will in real-time.
I pray today for the homeless veteran who still experiences the effects of war. I pray for the woman who lost her child. I pray for the father who struggles so hard to feed his family. I pray for all those who have been beaten down by the world, that they may find a place in Your Kingdom!
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.