By Alicia Diller, M.A.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28-30
Listen to the sound of the passionate heart of Jesus reaching out for us! He cries out, “Come to me!” He wants to gather us like chicks under his wing (Matt. 23:37). He wants to give us repentance, rest, quietness and strength (Isaiah 30:15). He wants to ease our burden (Matt 11:28-30). He wants to give us true life (John 5:39)! As Jesus walked through the towns and villages of His day, He saw the masses and had compassion on them because they were were harassed and helpless with no shepherd (Matt. 9:36). The word for compassion here is splagchnizomai which means a deep, deep feeling that yearns with warm, tender emotion from the “gut”, so to speak. He is not a God without emotion. He is jealous, angry, joyous, peaceful, indignant, compassionate… but all of these emotions come out of a pure heart of love for His Beloved (that’s us). He’s angry because He loves. He is jealous because He loves. He is joyous because He loves. He is peaceful because He loves. He is indignant because He loves. He is compassionate because He loves. There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for us! (Romans 8:32)
In fact, He is love itself! Scripture tells us that God is love in 1 John 4:8. This means that every characteristic of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 can be ascribed to Him. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love is not rude. Love is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil. Love rejoices with the truth. Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails! This is what God is like.
I hope this encourages you today and is renewing your vision of who God is. What we believe about Him is one of the most important things in our lives. How we see Him affects the direction of our lives and the atmosphere of our hearts. Put your full trust in Him and come to Him. He welcomes you with open arms!