A Tender Heart Like Jesus
By W. C. Moore
On every hand God’s own children are confessing to a “lack” in their own lives – an unexplainable hardness of heart, a subtle callousness that creeps into their souls unawares, till they find all tears gone, and ofttimes, alas, a bitterness within instead of humility, love, forbearance – and sometimes even a critical spirit manifesting itself.
Perilous
There is no doubt whatever but that we are living now in “perilous times” (2 Tim. 3:1-12). The prevailing “spirit of the age” will swamp, engulf, overwhelm, seduce – or at least strongly influence and depress even earnest Christians unless they take alarm at the first approach of lukewarmness and do exactly as Jesus says: “And take heed to yourselves...Watch ye therefore, and pray always” (Luke 21:34, 36).
When the Son of God speaks, He means what He says! In prophecy as well as in everything else – God’s only begotten Son has the preeminence (Col. 1:18). His words, pure and straight from the heart of the Father, carry warnings, which, if unheeded, leave a wicked race absolutely without help or hope. God has done the best He could do for us – He has given us His only begotten Son, and if we reject or despise or ignore Him and receive not His words (John 12:48) – we are utterly hopeless!
Jesus’ Warnings
Jesus’ warning of hell, where “the fire…never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43-44), is one of the most terrific and fearful warnings of all Scripture.
His warning to “popular,” men-pleasing preachers is likewise direct, specific, clear and terrible: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
Cure for Callousness
The cure for this awful callousness which abounds on every hand is found alone in the application of the nail-pierced hands of the Nazarene! By returning to Him in simple, humble, child-like faith, and letting Him place these nail-scarred hands on your heart, His life, His compassion, His humility, His loyalty, will again flow into your soul and out from your life to other lives which you have been touching – which you have been hindering – so that instead of being a stumbling block to other Christians you will be a blessing and an inspiration.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This is a divine promise that never can fail. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
This is a simple remedy, but it works! As we abide in Him, we are not only victorious over sin and self, but also fruitful (John 15:5). Talk things over with Jesus. He is still the great Savior and the great Healer. He heals broken hearts (Luke 4:18) and broken bodies (Matt. 8:16-17). No case is too hard for Him (Matt. 19:26).
Daily walking with the Lord keeps us free from sin. And if we should slip, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God’s Word Means What It Says
Oh, let us walk humbly with Jesus day by day along life’s pilgrim highway as strangers and pilgrims on this old earth, looking for the return of our Heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus, and “occupying” (Luke 19:13) – keeping busy in His will and in His glorious service – ‘till He come! His grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor. 12:9), and He gives His grace, His favor, His help, His enablings to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5-7).
“He satisfies my soul,
He fills the empty place;
His love is in control –
I’m enraptured by His face.
‘Tis heaven to be about Him,
How could I live without Him?
Take, take everything but my Lord!”