The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Philippians 4:5,
"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
Paul asked his Philippian readers to ensure their gentleness be evident, observable, on display to all, to everybody.
I learn from the dictionary that to be gentle is to be free from harshness, sternness, abrasiveness. Softness and a delicate touch come to play with gentleness. Kind and amiable, while the opposite is to be rough, harsh, stern.
A gentle person is a sympathetic and helpful person with a forbearing nature, a thoughtful person. We all like to be around gentle and kind people. Unfortunately, many of us struggle to find that disposition within us at times. Nevertheless, Paul, as Jesus' emissary, instructs us to make sure our lives display just that very thing.
Paul had a wonderful admonition to the Colossian fellowship, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12:14.
So where do we go to find the inner capacity to cultivate this golden trait in our lives? We read in Galatians 5:22-26, "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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
Paul asked his Philippian readers to ensure their gentleness be evident, observable, on display to all, to everybody.
I learn from the dictionary that to be gentle is to be free from harshness, sternness, abrasiveness. Softness and a delicate touch come to play with gentleness. Kind and amiable, while the opposite is to be rough, harsh, stern.
A gentle person is a sympathetic and helpful person with a forbearing nature, a thoughtful person. We all like to be around gentle and kind people. Unfortunately, many of us struggle to find that disposition within us at times. Nevertheless, Paul, as Jesus' emissary, instructs us to make sure our lives display just that very thing.
Paul had a wonderful admonition to the Colossian fellowship, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12:14.
So where do we go to find the inner capacity to cultivate this golden trait in our lives? We read in Galatians 5:22-26, "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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
How often we see those who should be modeling a disposition of gentleness and kindness displaying something else when they critique others for their failures or, say for instance, their lack of appreciation for the theology they subscribe to. Yes, there is a place for firmness, for standing for the truths of God's word, for opposing the sinful acts of people.
Here is a thought: can we be firm, stand for truth, oppose the sinful acts of people while having a gentle and kind heart? Is that something we can still display as we go out on our crusades to straighten everyone else out?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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