“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
We know Jesus and reflect Him in our gentleness and tenderness. He says of Himself:
“ I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
It is an unexpected trait in our modern day culture to be made to feel dignified and worthy as a really valued person.
This is what Jesus modelled in His tenderness towards all who He encountered.
He was the offspring of His Father’s heart who in His mercy withholds punishment we may deserve and by His grace gives us undeserved gifts providing all that we need.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of these things and it is in the moments of encounter that we are convicted of how low we need to go. These moments of honest truth plunge us deeper than we’ve known before and yet miraculously then spring board us higher into God’s presence to encounter His mercy, forgiveness and grace.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Doing little spiritual bunny hops never bounce us to this place
God’s mercies are new every morning to renew us as He draws us to be honest in our need.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Christ calls us to come to Him and there we are invited into His very core which is “humble and gentleness.” He offers rest to the restless heart to fill it with hope.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Each of us knowing our own downfalls will have asked the question in our own heart. How will Jesus deal with me in my worst moments of my life.
We are empowered when we remember that He has already answered that for us when He encountered the adulterous woman being brought to Him for judgement.
His answer is that He will not condemn, His mercy motivating her to empower herself to sin no more and therefore be in receipt of His grace.
“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.
His gentleness is the felt experience of Mercy. It is like the unexpected embrace when we feel we deserve a slap.
It is the loving, giving, gentleness that evokes the desire to do likewise and to sin no more over and above the result that any punishment would deter.
It speaks life to the dying.
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
The illustration shows us plunging low as on a trampoline to be immediately bounced high to encounter the face and presence of the gentle, lowly Lord Jesus. His mercy and grace emanating light that pushes back the darkness.
Six Scripture’s that come to mind:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”. 2 Corinthians 1:3 ESV
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”. Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 ESV
“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11 ESV
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 ESV
The song Be Unto Me. Bryan and Katie Torwalt
Lessisgreater 