Gentle and lowly in heart

Matthew 11 : 25 - 30

......learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart.....

We were talking about how spiritual formation programs sometimes take the 'forceful' way to bring up all the 'sin' in our lives in order for transformation to take place. Some people are at a place where this is needed or they might just continue unaware of their hidden faults. But this is probably not the way that God 'deals' with every believer. My friend shared her deep sense (though of course she hastily said that it wasn't an audible voice or anything like that) that God actually sees her, knows all her weaknesses, and challenges her to change through loving acceptance. This way is 'slow', it comes in fits and starts, it is very much a process...........and there is not program to follow.

The image of Jesus in the passage today gives me the sense that he does often come gently, quietly into our lives to draw us to good rather than come with a sledgehammer to threaten us into submission.

Our images of God are always growing and changing. This is true of every believer, even those who like to think that they are always "biblically" sound. Images are experiential, relational and cannot be determined just by having the correct "doctrine of God or the Trinity". As we relate to God in prayer, he slowly opens our veiled eyes, our closed hearts, our finite minds to who he is. There are so many metaphors that describe our God in Scripture. At each stage, we might experience one aspect of him. This should change and also grow as our relationship deepens and also as our life experience allows us to see more facets of God's action in our lives.

In this passage, Jesus comes as gentle teacher, who shares with his students the yoke of life. It is a 'restful' way to live life. He is not a hard taskmaster whose heavy yoke is placed solely upon our shoulders. This is good news for those who are weary of trying too hard at being a 'good' Christian, of all the 'works' we get drawn into in order to prove our love for God. He comes with comfort - for he wants to be yoked together with us. Praise God, the burden will be light.