Rethinking God’s Heart
As humans, we tend to project our own expectations onto God, rather than allowing the Bible to reveal His true nature. This is particularly evident in our understanding of God’s compassion and mercy. We often view God’s forgiveness as a reluctant acceptance, rather than a sweeping expression of love.
A Surprising Revelation
In Isaiah 55, we find a passage that challenges our assumptions about God’s heart. The text invites the wicked to return to the Lord, promising that He will “have compassion on” them and “abundantly pardon” their sins. This is not a grudging acceptance, but a lavish expression of love.
A Deeper Understanding
The passage goes on to reveal that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. This is not a statement of mystery, but a declaration of God’s compassionate heart. We are called to seek Him, to call on Him, and to return to Him, not with a diminished view of His heart, but with a deepened understanding of His love.
Breaking Free from Reciprocity
Our natural impulse is towards reciprocity, towards paying back what we owe. But this is not the way of God’s heart. He does not demand payment or balance, but instead offers abundant pardon and compassion. We must break free from our limited views of God’s heart and allow ourselves to be swept up in His lavish love.
A New Perspective
As we come to understand God’s heart, we are called to change our perspective. We can no longer view His expressions of mercy with our old eyes. We must see Him as a loving Father, who delights to give us gifts and sweep us up in His arms. This is the heart of God, revealed in the Bible and demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ.
Gentle and Lowly
In his book, Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund explores the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers. He reveals that Jesus is not a distant figure, but a loving Savior who is gentle and lowly in heart. We don’t need to unburden or collect ourselves before coming to Jesus; our very burden is what qualifies us to come.
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