Fellowship w/ the Contrite—

‘For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy:“
I live in a high and holy place, but also with him 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

We Americans want to eliminate pain altogether. And to that end, we’ll do anything and pay any price. We often look down w/ pity, those who are going thru trying times, while back of our minds we are so relieved that we’re not the ones in those circumstances. Ironically, in all of our efforts to eliminate pain, we have become one of the most medicated societies in the world, and history.

I often fall into this category as well. So, I have to constantly remind myself to embrace suffering, not to promote masochism, but b/c that’s where I’ll find God – God dwells among the weak, needy, contrite and lowly in order to revive their spirit. And if I find myself among lowly and contrite, I’m in fellowship w/ Him; and if I participate in serving them, I’m doing the work of God.