By John Thiel

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

This is the spirit that is the spirit of the throne of God. For it says he dwells in a high and holy place with whom? A humble spirit. It will occur to you that the one who sits on that throne is a selfless humble contrite being. Only those who are of a contrite spirit can sit together with him on that throne. I have observed that as we study the lessons, people have said they feel so far short of the mark. I’m afraid when people say that because they’re saying, what’s the use of even trying, I’m never going to make it. That frightens me that there will be people who lose their way as they are affected by this mentality. We need to spend more time on the sense that comes over us when we come face to face with Gods pure word, his pure character, his commandments and the high attainment we should gain and yet never lose the sense of our abject helplessness and yet retain a hope. This is a very careful balancing act for a sinner. Many Christians fall off the rails one way or another in their teaching or in their sense of being Christians. Read the rest of this entry →