Truth:

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 (New International Version)

Thought:

Mothers like to label their sons as “gentle.” I’ve never seen a son respond well to that label. I somehow remember starting a fight with someone just to prove I wasn’t “gentle.”  How’s that for a fallen nature?

Gentleness is an expression of compassion seen as God deals with the frail and weak and it’s also His expectation for how His followers should treat one another. He is the sun, we are the moon. We reflect the light of the sun to the side of the world that’s away from its direct glory.

We’re told to be gentle with everyone:

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers.They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Titus 3:1-2 (New Living Translation)

But specifically we’re to be gentle with others in the following circumstances:

Correcting The Wayward

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Galatians 6:1 (New Living Translation)

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 (New Living Translation)

Reasoning with pre-Christians

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (New Living Translation)

Nurturing the newly planted

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (New International Version)

Jesus was meek, but He wasn’t weak. He didn’t need to exert His authority, He moved in His authority. We’re to be like Christ in this world. We don’t need to defend ourselves, we don’t need to force others to see things the same way we do.  I absolutely enjoy how Eugene Peterson gets this sentiment across.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and  another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Live creatively, friends. Galatians 5:25- 6:1a(The Message)

When you look to Christ, it’s hard to judge someone else with anything but gentleness. We need to choose to be gentle.

Gentleness means never having to control another. - Danny Silk, Culture of Honor: Sustaining a Supernatural Environment

Prayer:

Lord, if I have shown disdain for gentleness, I confess it as sin and ask for Your forgiveness. Help me to be like Christ who would not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. Give me Your mind to know how to react in every situation. Empower me to be gentle to everyone.

Challenge:

A soft answer turns away wrath. The next time you have opportunity to be harsh, choose to be gentle.

Declaration:

I choose to reflect the light of the Son to the side of the world that’s away from the sun. I choose to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.