Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5
Whoa! That's pretty jarring, isn't it? Especially in these days. You can barely put up the most innocent post on social media without being mocked, criticized, and maligned for something that never entered your mind. Contention, aggressive driving, defamation and slander, hostility, intolerance, a demanding, critical, mocking spirit - we are familiar with these. But gentleness? Sadly, gentleness is not a hallmark of our current culture.
Let your gentleness be evident to all. Paul goes even farther in his letter to the Ephesians:
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
Other versions translate it "[Walk] with all humility and gentleness" (ESV), and "Always be humble and gentle" (NLT). However you say it, it doesn't leave much room for the cruel, mocking, hateful spirit of this age.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
A place of rest. Isn't that what we need and seek, a place of rest from the strident voices, each calling the other hateful and intolerant? Isn't that what we are called to be? A place of rest?
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others ... Psalm 15:1-5
Utters no slander – does not backbite, does not go about maliciously as a slanderer, is not a tale-barer.
Casts no slur on others – does not slander, reproach, scorn, mock, insult, taunt.i
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
And being gentle does not mean being a weak pushover. The word translated "gentleness" here means "meekness ('gentle strength') which expresses power with reserve and gentleness ... For the believer, meekness begins with the Lord's inspiration and finishes by His direction and empowerment. It is a divinely-balanced virtue that can only operate through faith."ii
Wow! We can only be this kind of gentle, have this God-given "gentle strength," through the Lord's inspiration, empowerment, and gift of faith.
What is the goal of this kind of gentleness? What is always, always, always God's purpose? Look again at 2 Timothy 2:25-26:
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
The goal always is that people be saved. That people come to know Him. Not that people change their political views, but that their hearts be changed, made new, set free.
In these coming months help me to remember that, Lord. Empower me with your gentle strength and powerful meekness.
"Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" Matthew 21:5
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel (wrangle or engage in strife) or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:18-21
Photo, Discussion, by Transition Heathrow https://flic.kr/p/7Vwvog
i Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, and Brown-Driver-Briggs.
ii HELPS word-studies, Discovery Bible
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