Gentle and Lowly

 As Christians we know lots about what Jesus has done for us. But who is Jesus? What is his heart like? What is his most natural disposition towards us as Christians? Is this the same for the Father and the Spirit also?

In ‘Gentle and Lowly’, Dane Ortlund helps us to answer these often neglected but essential questions. With the aid of some Puritan writers and other great Bible teachers across the centuries, he unveils God’s deepest heart as communicated in his Word. These teachers can sometimes be hard to understand. But don’t sweat; Ortlund uses short quotations and clearly expounds their ideas. He explains how one of our problems as humans is that we by default believe that God is like us. We have the tendency to suspect that he is angry or disappointed with us because of our repeated sins. We can think his patience is running thin or that he is unwilling to help us in our suffering. Thankfully, God is not like us. In fact, he’s completely the opposite.

Ortlund points us to the God of the Bible, who at the core of his being delights to show mercy to wretches like us. And to Jesus Christ, the Saviour-King highly exalted, yet who displays a constant and tender love to the broken who will come to him. This book has brought me tears of joy along with an unmatched comfort as I’ve meditated on God’s heart for me despite my waywardness. It’s also challenged my thinking and response to God.

Sam Allberry said it’s one of the best books he’s read; I couldn’t agree more. Yet it’s only so wonderful because of the God it leads us to. I highly recommend this book to any Christian believer – to any sinner and sufferer. 

Lewis Davies