Category: Gentleness

My Dear Sister,

Sometimes the definition of a word is clearer when you think of its opposite: summer verses winter, friend verses enemy, Hitler verses Billy Graham. When I think of gentleness, the opposite seems to be uncontrolled power: Uncontrolled power that causes chaos, fear, and rage. This power eventually becomes the demise of the one using it. When I contemplate an example of gentleness; a wrestler holding a baby, a Marine rescuing an orphan, and a dad changing a newborn’s diaper, come to mind. They are great examples. However the real model of gentleness, this power under control if you will, is Jesus Christ.

Do you ever think of how the all-powerful God of the universe came down to earth and became a baby? A baby: One hundred percent God, one hundred percent man. That is Power under control!! Do you remember how He spent most of his life as the humble son of a tradesman in a small town? That was Power under control! Christ was homeless and surrounded himself with societal losers, again, Power under control. He calmed the seas, cast out demons, and raised people from the dead, amazing Power under control. This Lord who created all things with his spoken word was controlled enough to draw children to Himself. These children ran to him with no fear, trembling, or coercion because he exuded power under control. The children trusted this gentle Messiah. What about you my dear sister?

His gentleness is what keeps us alive sister. The penalty of sin is death yet he has controlled his power and given us grace and mercy we do not deserve! All the wrathful power from a holy God was put on His son and all the power of heaven raised Him from the dead on the third day! Dear sister, are you trusting in Him? If you are then you are now free from your sin debt and your heart is in the hands of your Gentle Savior who will never leave you, never forsake you, and who will lead you as a shepherd. That is power under control. That is gentleness. That is our Savior.

How are we applying this gentleness in our lives? How can you and I have power under control? When speaking with our children who challenge us, remember to control your power. When speaking with our husbands who sometimes fail to meet expectations, remember to control your power. And even when speaking with our friends who sometimes share more about others (fact or fiction) than we need to hear…we should control the power to engage in gossip and use the power to leave. “A gentle word turns away wrath”. We have been treated with gentleness by our Savior…how much more should we be gentle with those he has placed in our lives?

From Your Sister in Christ,
Colleen

My dearest Sister,

Just yesterday I was reading a devotional on Ephesians 4:1-3. Paul says “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In Paul’s typical manner he not only told me what to do, but how as well. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians exhorts me to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” I am to do this in humility and gentleness, with patience…and so forth.

But what is this gentleness that Paul is speaking of? I have heard the word used many times before, but I don’t think I have ever really understood everything the word entails. Charles Hodge defined gentleness as the “unresisting, uncomplaining disposition of mind which enables us to bear other people’s faults without irritation or resentment.” Wow. I’d never thought about gentleness that way before. I guess I always associated gentleness with being soft-spoken, and always speaking in love. I see in this insightful definition that gentleness pushes beyond not losing your temper when someone pushes you too far.

Paul didn’t stop at humility and gentleness, and neither should I. He also said, “with patience, bearing with one another in love”. You might have a translation that uses the word longsuffering instead of patience. I like this word better because it captures the essence of how we are to live with others that may be different than us, and yes, may have annoying habits! It means loving a person with the love of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 13) despite their faults and despite their irritating habits. Now I know this sounds challenging. It is. There is nothing easy about loving others, especially those who may be more difficult to love than say, your best friend. Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on ourselves to change our ways. We can ask Jesus to give us the grace to treat all of our brothers and sisters with gentleness. He will give it to us! He is always faithful!

I’m sorry to have to write you and share that just this past week my patience has been, at best, thin. It seems that at one point I was more self-controlled and more able to deal with the annoyances of others. Now, I just feel that every little thing gets me wound up and grumpy. I’m easily annoyed and don’t often trouble myself to hide it. Reading this passage of Scripture and taking in this new perspective on gentleness has convicted me and by the grace of God it has brought me to repentance! But there is one last thought I want to leave with you. Paul didn’t just give us the “what” and the “how,” he also gave us the “why.”

You and I bear with one another in love in order to “maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” As sisters in Christ, we are of one body, and we all belong to Him, having been made new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), and because we are of one body we should strive to act like it. Unity is one of our defining characteristics as Christians. Dear sister in Christ, may we together strive to maintain this precious gift through pursuing a spirit of gentleness with all people and in all circumstances.

Your sister,
Kayla

Hello again, Dear Sister in Christ,
Whenever I read passages in Scripture that contain the word, gentle, I smile. Just listen to Paul: …walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.
I perceive “gentleness” as a friendly word, one that connotes lambs and clouds and breezes. I have always admired the gentleness of someone who is, by nature, soft-spoken. Every word from that person produces calm, affects the very atmosphere with tenderness. When given a choice—I prefer to be in the company of gentle people.
Gentleness seems to have lost favor with our culture. In the world of business, competition is aggressive. In the world of school, children are expected to express themselves, no matter how it hurts another. The worldview, according to television, presents family models that batter each other with insult and ridicule. And, I remember well, how a presidential candidate was verbally pummeled because he called for a gentler, kinder America.
But, Sister, as much as it is possible, let’s not allow a harsh world to dictate to us what deportment we should bear. We who are Children of the Most High God should always continue to represent Christ, who served as a paragon of spiritual strength when He was in the midst of Pharisees, soldiers and the enemy, being mocked, spat upon and tempted.
He did not stand back, either, to be a door mat for anyone, but presented His reply from the Scriptures. What an encouragement to memorize the Word of God, lock it up in our heart and be prepared to respond in and out of season! Let’s fill up our treasury with Scripture to be used, not abused. Let us know the Scriptures so that we may respond with gentleness, in all situations, even those that might be disturbing. Who knows if someone who is listening has been prepared by God for the salvation message?
Gentleness may be unpopular to the world that does not believe in Jesus as the only Savior, but let it not be so with you and me, dear sister! I am so glad that you and I have Jesus. He is gentle and lowly in heart, and He gives us rest for our souls— everywhere, everyday, eternally.
Love in our Gentle Jesus,
Mimi

My Dearest Sister,
I sat outside on my front porch the other day and watched as the rain fell softly upon the lawn. The rain fell so lightly that it sounded like the stroke of an artist’s brush upon their canvas. Closing my eyes for a moment to enjoy that sound, I felt the slightest breeze which then blew some of those rain drops my way. Instantly my face went from being dry to being wet with the rain. I smiled at the thought of it being so gentle, yet so effective at changing my dry thirsty skin to that of being quenched.
The Lord Jesus came to my mind and like the rain on my face, I was refreshed! I thought of the accounts in God’s word of His gentle touch to the hurting world in which He lived, especially to those in real need of compassion. Yet, how powerful his gentle spirit was! Sitting there pondering all of this my heart was filled with gratitude that I was to be able to think on these things, and yes even to the slightest degree begin to comprehend them! Without Him it would not be possible to do so!
What a simply amazing thing it is, dear sister of mine, that Jesus would leave His gentleness in the hearts and hands of those who follow Him, including me. His spirit living within us produces in us the supernatural power of gentleness! What a gift!
However, just as my spirit began to soar with this blessed truth my heart lurched with disappointment at the thought of how many times I have ignored this precious jewel within my breast. Even worse, how often I have covered it up with criticism and judgmentalism. “Ah, blessed forgiveness! Wash away my sins and set my heart aright dear Lord”, I prayed.
I did not want to leave the porch at that moment. I wanted to somehow be sure that the Truths I was so lovingly reminded of would not be forgotten. Forgotten in the mad rush of living! I wanted my heart to soak up this Living Truth within me, like my lawn soaked up the rain. He was gentle and so, I too, am called to lean upon Him and to be gentle. So I got up from that place of joy and contentment and moved off of the porch and back into my house where the clanging and demanding of life was on the other side of that door. The place where He has called me to walk in His Truth, to be gentle, so that those He has given to me will be refreshed by His Spirit living within me.
I write all this to you my sister that you too might be refreshed by our Lord Jesus and renewed in His strength to “let your gentleness be made known to all men.” May your heart absorb the loving Truth that His gentleness lives within you too.
Your Loving Sister,
Susan