Book of the Term - Summer 2021
Our book of the term is Gentle and Lowly – the Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund. The book centres itself on the one and only passage of Scripture that talks about what Jesus’ heart is like:
‘I am gentle and lowly in heart’
Matthew 11:29
With great care and attention to Scripture, the author reveals the vast depth of the heart of Christ for his own, all the while making sure to never ‘extract one side of Christ to the neglect of the others’. This is the first book that I have read which focuses on who Jesus is more than what He has done. In the author’s words:
‘We are not focusing centrally on what Christ has done. We are considering who he is. The two matters are bound up together and indeed interdependent. But they are distinct. The gospel offers us not only legal exoneration – inviolably precious truth! – it also sweeps us into Christ’s very heart. You might know that Christ died and rose again on your behalf to rinse you clean of all your sin; but do you know his deepest heart for you? Do you live with an awareness not only of his atoning work for your sinfulness but also of his longing heart amid your sinfulness?’
We learn from the Gospels collectively that when Jesus sees the fallenness of the world, he moves towards the sin and suffering, not away from it, because of who he is. And who he is has not and will not change. He will always move towards the broken ones who call out to him.
‘The posture most natural to [Jesus] is not a pointed finger but open arms.’
These words struck me hard when I first read them; all I could think was how often instead of offering open arms to my children, I wag a pointed finger. That is just one of many ways which this book forces us to examine ourselves in light of Jesus’ heart. But the truly beautiful thing about this book (and Jesus’ heart!) is that it doesn’t leave us there. For every time I have pointed my finger at my children, Jesus’ finger has not been pointed at me. Instead, his heart causes him to move towards me in my sin. And each time I’ve come to a point in this book where I’ve thought this is too good to be true, the author anticipates my response and moves even deeper into revealing the fullness of Jesus’ heart, which is always for me, even me.
This is a book I am continuously picking up. It is a truly soul nourishing read that can be enjoyed all in one go or in shorter devotions.
Purchase at https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/25689/gentle-and-lowly
Devotional reading plan https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/19302
Podcast https://www.crossway.org/articles/gentle-and-lowly-a-14-day-devotional/