Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Wow, what an amazing book dedicated to the heart of Jesus. I read this throughout the month of June and each time I picked it up, I grew in faith in the Lord. I was encouraged, reminded, comforted and sometimes convicted.Make sure you check out the YouTube Live Shows on Krista's Channel, BooksAndJams for more in depth discussions! I am so thankful to have joined some of the live show discussions with her and other lovely ladies this month. My channel name is BookLoverAmanda.This book dives deep into the heart of Christ and how he views us. He is gentle and lowly in heart. This book beautifully explains this in each chapter and provides some great historical background from the Puritans.What I was reminded of:• We often minimize our sin, we don’t have a good understanding of it because we have a sinful nature. God shows us His ultimate grace and Christ’s heart is drawn to us. Romans 5:20 “Where sin increased, Grace abounded all the more.”• Christ intercedes for us and he will never cast out.• He is an advocate for us. I resonated with this so much because my son has Autism and I have been struggling this past year and found myself sitting in my feelings many days. I can remember specifically one week where I had been so overwhelmed and not praying as I should. I cried out to the Lord one night, praying for my son to have good days at school and to help him grow in his speech and skills. The very next day, he had the best day he had in weeks and the chapter on Jesus being our advocate reminded me that just like I am advocating for my son in his struggles, with therapy and preschool, Jesus is advocating for me, my husband and my son all along the journey.• Jesus is our friend, he is near to us and we should draw near to him.• Jesus understands our feelings and has compassion for us. In our grief, he is grieved. He sees what we are going through and is not surprised by anything we are going through or feeling.• We don’t have to do anything (works) to earn his love. I love the comparison of the son trying to do everything to secure his place in the family when he doesn’t have to do anything special – the same for us in our relationship with Jesus. It’s settled and irreversible.• While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He loves me in my mess – my crazy, busy, working mom life mess. I can’t be everything for everybody and that’s ok. This chapter reminded me that throughout my mess – he is always sustaining me and loving me and listening.Overall, this is a perfect book to help us understand Jesus and His heart for us.

Rather than a quick read, I found I needed to carefully and thoughtfully read each chapter and allow the weight and joy of the teaching seep into my life. I highlighted more parts of the text than any other that I have read recently, right to the last chapter. Having finished the book I already want to start again and capture the depths of the teaching even more clearly.Ortlund writes with a convincing depth of biblical scholarship and insightful original statements that are a delight to enjoy.

This book is absolutely captivating. It isn't because of human words, but because of the expounding of scripture on every page. Ortlund masterfully pulls the reader into the real heart of Christ with every chapter. The only thing that could be seen as a drawback by some is that this book seems to be highly repetitive. In my eyes, this is no drawback at all as repetition is the mother of learning.After reading this book, I have come to the further realization of God's compassion and grace toward me no matter my circumstance.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane OrtlundMy wife and I read this like a devotional book, we read a chapter (8 pages on average) each night after which we'd discuss and pray. I recommend that approach. It served as a daily teaching or reminder that the Bible teaches that "the bent of God's heart is mercy. His glory is his goodness" (p. 147). The only things God is described as being "rich" in are mercy and kindness (Ephesians 2). "The only two words Jesus will use to describe his own heart are gentle and lowly (Matt. 11:29). And the first two words God uses to describe who he is are merciful and gracious (Exodus 34:6-7)" (ibid). This book combats our ingrained and conscious or subconscious belief that our obedience strengthens the love of God-- when that is contrary to the Gospel of grace.Ortlund draws heavily on Thomas Goodwin and other Puritan or later Reformed writers on the topic of the depths of God's mercy. While the Bible and those same Puritans rightly wrote at length describing God's perfect justice and the measure of his wrath, Ortlund painstakingly illustrates the marvelous Gospel truth that there is rest and perfect forgiveness and no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. In the Bible, His anger requires provocation, but "not once are we told that God is 'provoked to love' or 'provoked to mercy,' as that is his natural bent toward his covenant children. God is not like us, who love conditionally and with limits. "The message of this book is that we tend to project our natural expectations about who God is onto him instead of fighting to let the Bible surprise us into what God himself says...The natural flow of the fallen human heart is toward reciprocity, tit-for-tat payback... intractably law-ish." Isaiah reminds us that his thoughts are not our thoughts, his ways are higher, and the context of that passage is about God's blessings and covenant with a wayward Israel that deserved punishment. "God's thoughts are so much higher that not only does he abundantly pardon the penitent; he has determined to bring his people into a future so glorious that we can hardly bring ourselves to dare for it," (pg. 154-161, great quote from John Calvin included). "That God is rich in mercy means that your regions of deepest shame and regret are not hotels through which divine mercy passes but homes in which divine mercy abides" (p. 179). That Jesus is friend to sinners is only contemptible to those who feel themselves not to be in that category" (p. 114).Read the book and enjoy the rest that it offers. 4.5 stars.

This is one of the most well articulated books on the heart of Jesus and our Heavenly Father I have every read.Each chapter brought me deeper into knowing Jesus' heart for me.Incredibly written!

This book completely changed my life and the way I view God and His love for me. Every chapter left me in tears wondering how He could love me so. I have recommended this to everyone I know.

Depiction of God’s sweet heart. Brought me immense amount of comfort. Book emphasizes several key points by re-interating in different ways.

Such a good read! Cried in so many chapters! Made me see the heart of God in a new way🤍