Tender,
Loving, Compassionate
But
thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering,
and plenteous in mercy and truth. Ps. 86:15
God
has ordained according to the law of ministry that we should comfort one another
in tenderness and love when great sorrows come upon us. No man liveth unto
himself. No one dieth unto himself. Life and death both mean something to
every human being. . . . God has enjoined the duty upon His human agents to
communicate the character of God, testifying to His grace, His wisdom, and
His benevolence, by manifesting His refined, tender, merciful love. . . .
Jesus . . . was ever touched with human woe,
and
our hearts should be softened and subdued by His Holy Spirit, that we may
be like Him. . . .
Our
work is to restore the moral image of God in man through the abundant grace
given us of God by Jesus Christ. Everywhere we shall find souls ready to die,
and how essential it is that the compassion of Christ shall be given us of
Him, in order that we may never place one soul in defiance by not manifesting
long forbearance and pitying tenderness. . . . I inquire, Will we ever learn
the gentleness of Christ? Oh, how much we need to know Jesus and our heavenly
Father that we may represent Him in character! . . .
Jesus
calls us to Himself not simply to refresh us with His grace and presence for
a few hours, and then to send us forth from His light to walk apart from Him
in sadness and gloom. No, no. He tells us that we must abide with Him and
He with us. Wherever His work is to be done He is present—tender, loving,
and compassionate. He has prepared for you and me an abiding dwelling place
in Himself. He is our refuge. Our experience should broaden and deepen. Jesus
has opened up all the divine fullness of His inexpressible love, and He declares
to you, Ye “are labourers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). O what
meaning these words have—”Abide in me” (John 15: 4), “Take
my yoke upon you” (Matt. 11:29). Will we take it? for the promise is,
“Ye shall find rest unto your souls.” There is rest, complete
rest in abiding in Christ.
From
Devotional: Our Father Cares, pp. 117, 118.
