Gentleness is the eighth of nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 Let’s see what the Bible says about gentleness. Ephesians 4:2: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." May Christ make us gentle, and may we be gentle with ourselves and others, as Christ is gentle with us. Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Prayer: May we start each day by intentionally putting on the robes of our order, that of Christ-followers. May we clothe ourselves daily in these qualities given to us by the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 2:25: "Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth..." Prayer: May we be gentle with those who don’t know Christ, serving as a positive witness to the Holy Spirit’s power within us, and Christ’s love for people. 1 Peter 3:15-16: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." Prayer: May our walk as Christ-followers be marked by gentleness and respect so that all who look at our lives see Christ’s transformational work in us. 1 Thessalonians 2:7: "Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." Prayer: May we be gentle and nurturing of all those whom Christ has placed in our care. Philippians 4:5: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Prayer: May our gentleness be from Christ, and not from our own strength, so that Christ gets the glory, and not us. Titus 3:2: "To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone." Prayer: May gentleness be a way of life for us, and may we repent for those times we have failed to be people of peace, representing the peace of Christ, and treating others with the gentle way that Christ would have us behave. SENIOR LEADERS’ NATURAL WIRING Many vocational Christian leaders are known for their gentleness, while some are not. Many marketplace Christian leaders are not known for being gentle - quite the opposite. We can be too direct, forceful, and hard-charging. No matter who you are and how you are wired, Christ calls us to be gentle. It is much more difficult for some of us than for others, myself included. I have spent the last thirty-five years working with senior leaders in the marketplace and the church. Of the thousands I have worked with, only a small percentage were naturally gentle. I, for one, repent of the times I have failed to be gentle. I realize that it is a sin that must be confessed, repented of, and turned away from. If you are wired like me, you’ll agree that this is not easy. In our own flesh, it is an impossible task. With Christ, all things are possible. Being intentionally gentle requires us to be intentionally surrendered to Christ and His Holy Spirit. For me, it is a daily reprieve from my natural, hard-charging behavioral style. God did not give me the natural wiring for gentleness. It has to be cultivated. STEPS TO GENTLENESS Intentionality is the first step in this journey to being gentle as Christ would have me. I have to want it. The second step is to come out of any denial that I am usually gentle and realize that this is just not a natural, default posture. The third step is to recognize it as sinful behavior when I fail to be gentle and repent. Finally, the fourth step is to turn to Christ for the transformation required. Only He can change me, if I am willing and surrendered to His control. CONCLUSION Gentleness is an active choice, practiced deliberately and consistently. It's not just about avoiding harm but about proactively nurturing, instructing, and interacting with others in a gentle manner, revealing the nature of Christ in our actions. ● May Christ have His way with me and you. ● May we be intentionally gentle in all we do and say. ● May the fruits of the Holy Spirit be realized in us. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. October 19, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. Note: All scriptures quoted are from the NIV. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Comments are closed.
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