Tenderness

[vinc]

Tenderness

Deep tenderness of spirit is the very soul and marrow of the Christ-life. But it is much easier to convince a Christian of his impurity, than to convince him of his hardness and his lack of Divine tenderness.

The very essence of the good news is that we can partake of the Divine nature - which includes tenderness of spirit. But unfortunately, even among intensely religious people, it is rare to find a continuous and all-pervading spirit of tenderness.

It is possible to be very religious, to be a brave defender of the truth, to be a preacher of holiness, to be blameless in outward life, and very zealous in good works, and yet to be greatly lacking in tenderness of spirit - that tenderness of love which is the very essence of Heaven, and which was constantly manifest in the life of Jesus.

Tenderness of spirit cannot be borrowed or put on for special occasions; it is emphatically supernatural, and flows out continuously only where there are inner fountains of life.

Tenderness of spirit is not that human tenderness of mind and manner which is the product of high culture and social training. No. It is a supernatural work that permeates one's whole being. It is a beautiful interior fountain of God's own tenderness of nature, opened up in the inner spirit to such a degree that it completely floods the soul, saturating the manners, expressions, words and tones of the voice, mellowing the will, softening the judgement, melting the affections, refining the manners, and moulding the whole being after the image of Him who was infinitely "gentle and humble in heart."

-- Author Unknown

 

[heartnsoul]

Amen! May our cup overflow with God's love and flood us with the spirit of tenderness.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Amen.

 

[angelwind]

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,

and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Eph.4:30-32

 

[Truth and Reconciliation]

Many Christians can be very "hell and brimstone" to nonbelievers and even their own brethren but not tenderloving and forgiving as our Father calls us to be.

Great post. May we all be a vessel of His love to this world!

 

[bought_with_blood]

Flip!

That reminds me of how much i need the love and grace of our heavenly Father.
Lord i pray that every day, every hour, there'll be less of me and more of you.