Gentle and Lowly

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

by 

Dane C. Ortlund

I tend to be critical of books that are popular within Christian non-fiction, as the market is unfortunately inundated with false teaching. This, however, was a book I was interested in reading because it felt like the right time to delve into how Jesus views His children and to examine His heart for us. I have Multiple Sclerosis and have been dealing with a flare for the past several weeks, so this book brought me so much comfort! I enjoy reading theology books with my journaling Bible, so I can take notes to remember for the future. I often find better cross-references from reading non-fiction than I do when looking at study Bibles. 

Ortlund beautifully explores the character of God by examining how He describes His own heart. Drawing heavily on works from Puritan theologians, this book serves as a challenge to release God from the restrictive box we often put Him in, forging a deeper understanding of His agape love through His Word. The detailed exposition given to the several cited Scriptures inspires awe, both in Christ and in the complexities of the Word. I also very much appreciated that Ortlund consistently made points and synthesized information, but always examined if what he was positing was truly Biblical. 

Although theology is a topic that can quickly become academic, with many complicated concepts needed to understand a single chapter, this is a must read that is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of the Bible. Ortlund even states "It is written, in other words, for normal Christians. In short, it is for sinners and sufferers. How does Jesus feel about them?”. We all struggle with sin, and if we're honest, we all feel that we can never measure up or be worthy of God's grace, mercy and love for us. This is a perfect book to read to better understand Jesus and to begin to see how He truly views us, flaws and all. I personally struggle with depression, so this is an invaluable book that I know I will continue to appreciate as I reread it in the future. 

A final quote I just adore, and I'm sure fellow bibliophiles will also enjoy: