Thought for the day.
In order to be gentle, we must not view ourselves as better than someone else. Rather than asserting superiority, someone who is gentle wants to help others, even when they have been done wrong.
Here are six benefits to being gentle:
1. Gentleness Allows Us to Experience Jesus:
When you and I surrender every part of ourselves to God, the Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to walk like Jesus. When we see how Jesus was gentle with the hurting, compassion pricks our souls to be like Him.
“Let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of human nature” (Galatians 5:16, GNT).
2. Gentleness Stirs Hearts:
An argumentative person constantly pointing out others’ faults simply shoves people away. Gentleness stirs our hearts to open our ears and drop our defenses.
We will disagree with one another because we all come from different walks and different thoughts. But in Christ, we stand together under the banner of God’s grace in the unity of the Spirit.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV).
“When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be won over. A gentle tongue will break a bone” (Proverbs 15:15, NLV).
3. Gentleness Fosters Restoration:
Uncertain times can cause fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to detour down a life path that does not honor God. Berating and shaming them is not conducive to restoration. Speaking and acting with gentleness opens the door once again for them to repent and see Christ.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, ESV).
4. Gentleness Embraces Grace-Filled Speech:
Because we live in a fallen world, we encounter people experiencing fear and unrest. Harsh words and hard-lined actions deflect fellowship. With a heart for the Lord, let gentleness reach out in love with the hope of Jesus.
“Your heart should be holy and set apart for the Lord God. Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect” (1 Peter 3:15, NLV).
“He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25, GW).
5. Gentleness Displays the Lord’s Wisdom:
If someone is already hostile to the Gospel, pray for God to give you gentle words to share. Disarming hostility opens hearts to hear wisdom from the Lord.
“Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his good deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom” (James 3:13, AMP).
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17, KJV).
6. Gentleness Empathizes Like Jesus:
Whether or not we agree with another person’s point of view, gentleness acknowledges it in order to understand how they feel. We all have faults in our thoughts, actions, and motives, yet gentleness sees beyond them.
We are called to extend grace and make allowances: “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of Your love” (Ephesians 4:2, NLT).
Erick Bouwmeester
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