We live in a time when God's people are often very confused about what Christianity is and what a Christian is supposed to do. I've heard people ask; what does God require from me? What should I be doing? Many others wonder why Christianity has not brought prosperity to their lives despite the fantastic promises of God in the Holy Bible. Obviously, we must have heard so many reasons or answers to these questions, but this is what the Lord says:
"Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my Word. (Isaiah 66:1-2) NIV
The sequence of the given thought runs thus: God is the Maker of the universe, and He wants nothing that belongs to it. The most stately church is to Him as the infinitely little. What He does delight in is something generically different -- the spiritual life which answers to His own. He is more interested in the man that is humble, the spirit that is contrite and the soul that trembles at His Word. It is these three qualities that God requires from you; humility, a contrite spirit and a trembling soul.
- Humility:
Humility, in this sense, is an act of total dependence on God. A humble man is one who has no opinion, but depends on the opinion of God. An opinionated person is only braggadocio of his knowing. When one tries to act without waiting upon God and looking to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, his soul is plainly in full swing. This will deplete his spiritual life -- as man's fall was occasioned by seeking knowledge. According to Proverbs 15:13, "...a low opinion of oneself goes before honour (BBE). Many well-meaning Christians are stifled in their growth, because they have become full of knowledge and pride. But the result of humility is the fear of the Lord along with wealth, honour and life (Proverbs 22:4). Jesus Christ washed His disciples' feet to extort them to humility and charity. When we surrender in total trust to God with all our life circumstances and with a teachable spirit, He rescues us. Ask yourself; do I stop God from moving in my life by my pride?
- Contrite Spirit:
A contrite spirit is a broken spirit. And in Biblical terms, the human heart is essentially the same as our our spirit. A new heart and a new spirit are one and the same (Ezekiel 36:26). God is looking for a man whose heart is broken. He is very pleased with a heart broken in subjection to His will. David understood this, and when he had sinned, he reminded God of Himself saying: "...a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Let me share this open secret with you; God is closer to a brokenhearted Christian (Psalm 34:12). Check within yourself, be introspective. Allow your outer man to give way for the inner man to rule. This is true brokenness.
- Trembling Soul:
God looks favourably on the man who trembles at His Word. How He so loves that woman who screams at the entrance of His Word... The Prophet Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's word (Hab. 3:1-2). A heart that trembles at God's word enjoys peace with God. You may claim yes; but only the Lord knows if your heart truly trembles at His Word. If that is true, He looks to you. It is an advantage to your own soul if you entertain God's Word with a trembling frame of heart.
I don't have all the answers to your questions but God's Word has all the answers. And as you learn from the Word and submit to God's will, He will lift you up. When God said "this is the one I esteem", He was implying that the man with these three qualities is the one He admires and cherishes. Serve God honestly and you'd experience that turn-around you desire.
"Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my Word. (Isaiah 66:1-2) NIV
The sequence of the given thought runs thus: God is the Maker of the universe, and He wants nothing that belongs to it. The most stately church is to Him as the infinitely little. What He does delight in is something generically different -- the spiritual life which answers to His own. He is more interested in the man that is humble, the spirit that is contrite and the soul that trembles at His Word. It is these three qualities that God requires from you; humility, a contrite spirit and a trembling soul.
- Humility:
Humility, in this sense, is an act of total dependence on God. A humble man is one who has no opinion, but depends on the opinion of God. An opinionated person is only braggadocio of his knowing. When one tries to act without waiting upon God and looking to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, his soul is plainly in full swing. This will deplete his spiritual life -- as man's fall was occasioned by seeking knowledge. According to Proverbs 15:13, "...a low opinion of oneself goes before honour (BBE). Many well-meaning Christians are stifled in their growth, because they have become full of knowledge and pride. But the result of humility is the fear of the Lord along with wealth, honour and life (Proverbs 22:4). Jesus Christ washed His disciples' feet to extort them to humility and charity. When we surrender in total trust to God with all our life circumstances and with a teachable spirit, He rescues us. Ask yourself; do I stop God from moving in my life by my pride?
- Contrite Spirit:
A contrite spirit is a broken spirit. And in Biblical terms, the human heart is essentially the same as our our spirit. A new heart and a new spirit are one and the same (Ezekiel 36:26). God is looking for a man whose heart is broken. He is very pleased with a heart broken in subjection to His will. David understood this, and when he had sinned, he reminded God of Himself saying: "...a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Let me share this open secret with you; God is closer to a brokenhearted Christian (Psalm 34:12). Check within yourself, be introspective. Allow your outer man to give way for the inner man to rule. This is true brokenness.
- Trembling Soul:
God looks favourably on the man who trembles at His Word. How He so loves that woman who screams at the entrance of His Word... The Prophet Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's word (Hab. 3:1-2). A heart that trembles at God's word enjoys peace with God. You may claim yes; but only the Lord knows if your heart truly trembles at His Word. If that is true, He looks to you. It is an advantage to your own soul if you entertain God's Word with a trembling frame of heart.
I don't have all the answers to your questions but God's Word has all the answers. And as you learn from the Word and submit to God's will, He will lift you up. When God said "this is the one I esteem", He was implying that the man with these three qualities is the one He admires and cherishes. Serve God honestly and you'd experience that turn-around you desire.
