What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 65 - 25/10/24

This week we look at "The Heart of God".

Topic and Purpose: Tonight, we are studying the heart of God as revealed in the Bible, inspired by the book Gentle and Lowly, which draws insights from 17th-century Puritan writings. Our focus is on understanding God’s heart through His Word, particularly His love and compassion (Matthew 11:28-30).

Approach to Study: We approach this study by bringing together scriptures without a specific agenda, allowing us to explore openly and without bias what the Bible reveals about God's heart. This method emphasizes the richness and depth of God’s Word (Jeremiah 31:20).

God’s Goodness in Creation: In Genesis 1:31, we see that everything God created was “very good,” showing His delight and generosity in sharing the goodness of creation with humanity, especially before the fall. This highlights God’s benevolent heart toward us and His desire for us to enjoy His gifts (Psalm 103:13).

Mercy and Justice: God's character is balanced between mercy and justice. In Exodus 34:6-7, God describes Himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Yet, He also affirms that He does not leave the guilty unpunished. This reveals the necessity of repentance and trust in His grace for true restoration (Isaiah 55:6-9).

God’s Invitation: God invites us to seek Him while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6). His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), yet His forgiveness is abundant, and His mercy is vast. He calls us to turn from our ways and return to Him, demonstrating His desire for relationship and reconciliation.

Jesus’ Gentle and Lowly Heart: Jesus describes His own heart in Matthew 11:28-30 as “gentle and lowly.” He invites us to come to Him with our burdens, assuring us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This shows that He walks alongside us, guiding us with compassion, patience, and humility.

Encouragement in God’s Faithfulness: Despite our failures, God remains patient and faithful. Lamentations 3:31-33 reminds us that God “does not willingly bring affliction” and that His compassion is unfailing. This encourages us to return to Him, as His heart is always inclined toward mercy and restoration.

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