A Glimpse of God's Heart

One of the loveliest stories in the Bible occurs at the gate of a town called Nain, where Jesus met a widow walking in the funeral procession of her only son. I love the glimpse of God’s heart in the simple words, “When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her, and He said, ‘Don’t cry’” (Luke 6:13).

His heart went out to her. All through the Gospels we see the heart of God going out to the suffering. A paralytic. The father of a dying girl. Ten lepers. A blind beggar.

We also see his heart going out to those who were undeserving of it. In his last, agonizing hours of life He heard the jeers and mockery of those who clustered around the cross to curse him. He was moved to pray for their forgiveness. He knew they didn’t know what they were doing.

Romans 5:8 assures us, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He laid down his life for the undeserving.

This is the heart of God. He was willing to take on a human body, suffer indescribable pain and die without demanding that we love Him first, or agree to love Him afterwards. Knowing that we might say no to his grace, He died to give us the chance to say yes.

Romans 2:4 promises that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” What a lovely picture of God this is. It describes a loving creator who does not withhold His goodness from those who reject Him, but offers it freely. They hear the same musical notes, enjoy the same fragrances, feel the same sunlight and experience the same pleasures as those who love God. In times of trouble their cuts heal, their broken bones knit, their grief resolves … all gifts from above. God’s generosity and compassion reveals His heart and invites everyone to say yes to the grace He bought with His blood. He loves us — not because of who we are, but because of who He is.