Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Philippians 4:5 NKJV
Imagine you were Jesus, and you had the power to give and take life. Like Elisha, you could punish people who defied you in creative ways, like calling on wild animals to devour them or sending down fire to consume them like Elijah. If, with all of your power, you try to pass through a small village and the people there reject you and send you away, how will you react?
We see our Lord and Saviour, in Luke 9:9:51–56, being sent away by the people of Samaria while passing through their village on His way to Jerusalem. James and John (also known as the ‘sons of thunder’), in response to the situation, asked Jesus if he wanted them “to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did” (v.54). Jesus rebuked them, saying, “ You do not know what manner of spirit you are of…”.
Dear beliver, the Holy Spirit in you empowers you to be gentle. To be gentle means to be mild and even-tempered. It is an attribute that is evident in one’s speech, actions, and reactions. A gentle person is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). He does not make vile statements, he does not jump to conclusions, and he is not violent towards others.
We must not be hasty in responding to situations, even when we think we are right (1 Corinthians 8:2). We must also be careful about the words we speak and our manner of speech. The Bible teaches us that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1).
Contrary to what many people believe, gentleness is not a behavioural trait for a specific group of people, like introverts. It is a fruit of our newborn Spirit, therefore it is expected of every believer to respond to situations with the same calmness that our Lord and Saviour did on several occasions in the Bible.
For example, we see that when Jesus was confronted by the Jews about an adulterous woman, was not quick to condemn her, rather He carefully assessed the situation and gave a sound response that demonstrated His wisdom as the Son of God (John 8:1-11).
Dear Believers, how do you respond to situations at home, in your workplace, in church, or towards your friends, colleagues, or partners? You must consciously walk in the Spirit as He enables you to be gentle at all times.
Bible Reading Plan:1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalm 30
Hallelujah! Thank you for this charge
I walk in a manner that is evident of my newborn spirit. I exhibit gentleness towards all men, regardless of the circumstances