“…nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.…and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,” (Matthew 11:27–29 NAS95)
Jesus speaks these words. I usually dwell on the portions of this passage that I omitted since they focus more on my wants (an easy life) rather than Jesus’ clear point. As such it has taken years to truly begin to wrap my mind around the simplicity and significance of what He says here.
A number of years ago, the connection between the prayer of Jesus and what follows broke into my soul as the sunrise. It overwhelmed me and burned the memory deep. Gentle? God is gentle? No. For me at the time, God had an authoritarian flavor and I had to please Him. I had characterized Him in my mind in the way men wield power, but holy. I could not see gentleness. Jesus, revealing God the Father, wears gentleness as a garment of beauty, royalty and family resemblance. The awakening in my soul changed forever the way I see God, and I continue to grow in this understanding of Jesus in my experience. God, the Triune Lord of the universe, is gentle.
I had never connected authority, sovereignty and power with gentleness. Yet truly God needs not to express harshness or severity. He knows the frailty of His creation and me. He knows my fears and insecurities. He, Himself, knows no fear, insecurity, or threat. He has no need to control or manipulate me. He has total freedom to express gentleness, kindness, and the woo of love. He knows Himself and His ability to redeem and restore that which is broken: me.
Will I listen to the gentleness of His invitation? His Spirit drew me to see the yoke speaks of His gentle character, not my burden; His glory, not religious demands. Since then He reminds me to embrace His gentleness, which is the woo of His love.
For Reflection:
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great.” (Psalms 18:35 NAS95)
- In what ways have you experienced God’s gentleness? What helps you to receive His gentleness?
- What does God’s character of gentleness say about what He desires for you?
