“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

"The G-Word" - plus Monday Manna: High With the Lowly

This past weekend was a busy one in my neighborhood. People from miles around gathered to...well...if you REALLY wanna know, stop over to my post today at The Barn Door, where I'm talking about this once-a-year event in my part of town, and other experiences I've had with "The G-Word." See you there!


This week, Vonnie is hosting Monday Manna, so be sure to pop over to My Back Door and read the other entries, and link up if you want to participate.

Here's this week's verse:
For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15
Looking forward to your thoughts. Mine are below.

**

Lowly. Small. Meek. Contrite. These aren't the kind of attributes the world wants us to strive for. No - those would be Big. Important. Superior. Defying Authority. Be your own person. Don't depend on anyone. Look out for #1. Get to the top, with no concern about how many people you step on as you climb.

But that's not what His Word says.

According to Isaiah, the Lord lives "in a high and holy place." This doesn't surprise me - or likely any of you. God IS high and holy, above all. Why wouldn't he live above us, in a place deserving of His Name.
But look who lives there with Him.
"I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit."

We try to earn our way to heaven. To do things that make us important and "worthy" of being exalted - of deserving our favor in God's eyes. But we can't. If we want to live in the high and holy place with our Savior, we must be contrite and lowly in spirit.


You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. 2 Samuel 22:28

For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149:4


For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:12


Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

If you're already standing, He won't help you up. Kneel before Him, and He will lift you all the way up to His high and holy place.


**


Thanks for reading! Be sure to stop by Vonnie's blog for more Monday Manna.

Paving Rough Roads With God's Presence

2 comments:

  1. This verse is amazing and hard to wrap our measely little brains around, isn't it?

    Love you, JO...praying for you today, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is counterintuitive to think that a God who is holy and resides in the high place would choose to simultaneously reside in lowly human beings.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear your thoughts - please share them!

My One Word: 2016 and 2017

Most who know me know I am a very goal-oriented person (in fact, I already shared my goal wrap-up for 2016 and my new ones for 2017 on this...