”The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” (Isaiah 57:15)
As I sit in the presence of the Lord this morning, I praise Him for His holiness and eternality; I confess I don’t understand them. Like one songwriter intones, I truly am such a limited creature and my words can only paint so many pictures.
I praise the Lord today as the One who restores the crushed spirit. He doesn’t just choose people of great stature and status to represent His name. He comes to those who have little to offer but their sorry, penitent, selves. One version of the verse says He wants to cheer up the humiliated and seeks to encourage the discouraged. Sounds like a marvelous ministry statement to me!
God is into restoration! God is into revival!
This is good news for those who need rescuing; this is good news for those who have been brought low by sinful lives in our sin-sick world. Love has come to New Testament believers in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
God is into restoration! God is into revival!
This is good news for those who need refreshment and re-focus in their ministry lives. God is able to cheer up the humiliated so that they can minister anew or for the first time to those who feel humiliated around them. When Christ comes and breaks down barriers for me, He also equips me to go and break down barriers which exist between me and others. His grace makes things possible in and through me that would have been impossible in my pre-grace experience.
Grace afforded does not just translate to grace gained; it also translates to grace which can be gloriously given away.
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same as ever;
Slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.
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