God's Address

Daily Reading: Isaiah 57

Scripture Focus: For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57.15)

Devotional Thought: I know several people who have two homes...  Which one they're in depends on the season.  When it's cold and blustery, they're in Florida.  When it's hot and humid, you will find them in Ohio.

Did you know God has two homes?  God described them both:

·       He dwells in "the high and holy place."  It is a high place, the seat of authority and dominion.  It is a holy place, pure and spotless with no sin or death.  He has lived there and will live there forever.  But there is a problem.  In this high and holy place, God seems hard to reach.

·       Because of that, God took on a second home: "with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit."  Our sins have separated us from the "One who is high and lifted up."  But, when Jesus came to dwell among us, to take our sins upon himself, he made a way for us to live in the presence of God.  We need not despair that we can't reach God.  We find that the God who seemed hard to reach is concerned about us.  He wants to revive our spirits, and he moves in with us!

There is one fact about every person with two homes.  They can't be both places at once.  They're either in one or the other.  And, sometimes they miss out on things because of that.  But, God is able to be in two places at once: in heaven where he calls us to be with him forever, and on earth where he comes to help us on our journey.

Prayer: I praise you, Lord God, for you are high and lifted up.  You inhabit eternity and you are holy.  Yet, in your love you have come to dwell among us.  I forsake my pride and self-sufficiency and invite you into my heart.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 91.1-8

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.