Tender, Loving, Compassionate

[Thompson, Darryl]

Tender, Loving, Compassionate 

     But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious,
long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Ps. 86:15.  

     God has ordained according to the law of ministry that we should
comfort one another in tenderness and love when great sorrows come upon
us. No man liveth unto himself. No one dieth unto himself. Life and
death both mean something to every human being. . . . God has enjoined
the duty upon His human agents to communicate the character of God,
testifying to His grace, His wisdom, and His benevolence, by manifesting
His refined, tender, merciful love. . . . Jesus . . . was ever touched
with human woe, and our hearts should be softened and subdued by His
Holy Spirit, that we may be like Him. . . .  

     Our work is to restore the moral image of God in man through the
abundant grace given us of God by Jesus Christ. Everywhere we shall find
souls ready to die, and how essential it is that the compassion of
Christ shall be given us of Him, in order that we may never place one
soul in defiance by not manifesting long forbearance and pitying
tenderness. . . . I inquire, Will we ever learn the gentleness of
Christ? Oh, how much we need to know Jesus and our heavenly Father that
we may represent Him in character! . . .  

     Jesus calls us to Himself not simply to refresh us with His grace
and presence for a few hours, and then to send us forth from His light
to walk apart from Him in sadness and gloom. No, no. He tells us that we
must abide with Him and He with us. Wherever His work is to be done He
is present--tender, loving, and compassionate. He has prepared for you
and me an abiding dwelling place in Himself. He is our refuge. Our
experience should broaden and deepen. Jesus has opened up all the divine
fullness of His inexpressible love, and He declares to you, Ye "are
labourers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9). O what meaning these words
have--"Abide in me" (John 15: 4), "Take my yoke upon you" (Matt. 11:29).
Will we take it? for the promise is, "Ye shall find rest unto your
souls." There is rest, complete rest in abiding in Christ.  

 From That I May Know Him - Page 45