Gentle and Lowly: Chapters 7-8

Have you thought of anyone while you’ve been reading who might enjoy this book? Pick up a copy this Sunday and give it to them! We’d love to see others join us in our OneRead.

This week Ortlund dove into God’s holiness and the heavenly intercession of Christ. “The reason we feel as if divine wrath can easily be overstated is that we do not feel the true weight of sin…And just as we can hardly fathom the divine ferocity awaiting those out of Christ, it is equally true that we can hardly fathom the divine tenderness already resting now on those in Christ.” God does not withdraw from our sin, but sides with us against our sin. Read Hosea 11:7-9 again to reflect on the profound compassion found in Christ.

The book continues by pointing out that Christ’s intercession on our behalf may be one of the most neglected doctrines in the church today. In reality, “the present manifestation of [Christ’s] heart for his people is his constant interceding on their behalf.” Christ’s intercession is applying what the atonement accomplished in the most deeply personal way.

Let’s ponder these questions together this week.

In what ways does Hosea 11 surprise you about God and his holiness?

What does it mean that Jesus intercedes for us? How does that calm and reassure you right now? Have you realized that, if you are in Christ, he himself is praying for you? How does this transform or strengthen your own prayer life?