To the believer, fellowship with God is so precious and needful that,when his sin breaks that fellowship, he would be willing to do anything to restore it. He would offer any sacrifice that God demanded,make any vow God asked for, and even go so far as to cut off his right arm and pluck out his right eye if that would restore the fellowship. But the believer also knows that God desires none of these things. Religious sacrifices, promises to do better next time, abuse of the body by denial or beatings (as some have practiced), pilgrimages, and public abasements are the means which fleshly religion practices in order to restore fellowship with God. They believe that God is somehow pleased and appeased by such actions, but not the believer! He knows that what has gone wrong in the spirit cannot be remedied by any action of the flesh. What does God desire and look upon with favor and delight? A broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart. Religious people despise such a heart, for it condemns all their works by which they had hoped to win God's favor and also glorify themselves. That a man should be abased before the Lord alone, bringing no works or promises of works is an abomination to the world of religion. But it is not despised by the Lord God, who says, "I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit" (Isa. 57:15).
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