For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15 NASB)

Isaiah describes what has always been and always will be the path to God.  The Lord hears the plight of the humble.  The way up is always down. 

In many Christian circles, unfortunately, there is a belief that to gain the favor of the Lord, you have to achieve the high or exalted place in our spiritual pursuits.  From our scripture, it appears that just the opposite may be true.  God takes note of the lowly with a contrite heart.

General William Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army.  He was known for raising up godly leaders.  At one point in time, prominent Pastor, Samuel Brengle, from a large church in the US came to England to join the mission.  The Pastor was a little surprised by the first job Booth gave him.  He told him to go down to the cellar and blacken (shine) the boots of the other recruits.  It was not long before he was wondering what a successful pastor was doing shining shoes.  Brengle was having second thoughts about his decision to join Booth’s mission.  Then suddenly in his mind’s eye, he saw Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.  “Lord”, he whispered, “you washed their feet, I will black their shoes.” This man eventually rose to the level of Commissioner in the Salvation Army.

Are you walking so high God does not see you? The way up is always done.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission.  My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine.  I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University.  [email protected]