Day 1 Gentleness - True Gentleness
Galatians 5:22, 23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
As we study the fruit of the Spirit, one cannot imagine a better example than
Christ Himself. From His birth to His death and resurrection we observe the fruit
of the Spirit naturally flowing out from His life to everyone who crossed His path.
Gentleness is possibly my favorite characteristic of our Lord Jesus. No doubt,
Paul himself must have held this characteristic in high regard after experiencing
the Lord’s mercy on the road to Damascus (Acts chapter 9). Gentleness
encompassed the life of Paul, and likewise, should be at the core of our hearts
and flow into the lives of all we know.
Gentleness may be compared to the way you might play with a puppy dog. While
you posses total superiority in strength, and many of us in intelligence, a certain
care is taken while playing with the puppy. As we are approached by those
around us, whether in need of assistance or with hatred and bitterness, we also
should be examples of our Lord in exercising gentleness.
When remembering the life of Jesus, one cannot pass over His many encounters
with those that needed genuine care. With understanding and love the Lord
healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons. His gentleness led Him to
care for those that needed Him the most. Here was the Creator of the universe in
human flesh. How did He desire to spend His time? Not in grandeur or might as
one would expect of a king, but among the sick, the poor, and the “lowly in spirit.”
This is the fruit of a gentle spirit. In the same manner, Paul instructs us as
believers to live our lives with a gentle concern for those around us. We are to
show compassion and patience to all we meet. Ephesians 4:2 says that we have
been called to walk with “all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing
forbearance to one another in love…”
In as much as His ministry was to the weak, it was also to those who hated and
despised Him. As children of God we can glean more about gentleness from
these stories than possibly anywhere else. Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Lord
of Lords, was mocked, beaten, and killed by those He came to save. In all of this,
being both stronger and wiser, He showed total gentleness to those that hated
Him. In his letters to the first century churches, Paul stresses the importance of
imitating Christ in this manner. We are to be gentle in responding to those that
are “out to get us.” A gentle spirit is commanded of us when we rebuke or teach
others. A spirit of hatred or revenge is not of the Lord, but of the devil. As
Christians, we need to follow Jesus’ example in correcting the worldly issues we
encounter with a spirit of gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:24, 25 commands us, “And the
Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient
when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if
perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.”
As you evaluate your life, I pray that you may make it a point to show gentleness
to every person you know.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full
of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” James 3:17
Day 2 Gentleness“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28–29).
- Matthew 11:28–30
Setting aside the passions of the flesh and the vices of this world involves more
than just avoiding the various manifestations of sin in our lives. If we are to be
faithful to the apostolic mandate to stand firm in the faith by abandoning such
things (1 Peter 2:1), we must also cultivate in our lives the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.
5:22–23). If we have truly been justified, we have also been given the indwelling
presence of the Holy Ghost who will produce this fruit in our lives as we
cooperate with Him in our sanctification.
Today we will conclude our study of the fruit of the Spirit by examining the fruits
of gentleness and self-control. As we study the Scriptures we soon find that
gentleness characterized the key figure of the old covenant. Numbers 12:3, for
example, calls Moses a meek man — meek being a synonym for gentle.
However, not only is gentleness a defining feature of the preeminent old
covenant prophet, it is also an intrinsic quality of our new covenant Mediator. In
today’s passage, Jesus tells us that He too is a gentle person (Matt. 11:29).
When we speak of a gentle person we are not speaking of someone who is
reticent or fearful. Rather, the biblical view of gentleness presupposes strength.
No one who has ever walked the earth has had absolute power except our Lord
Jesus who is the very God of the universe. However, Jesus did not exercise His
strength in an abrasive manner or use it to bully others. Rather, He tempered His
strength with gentleness. He stood for truth when it was appropriate, but He also
gave grace to sinners like the woman at the well when they were repentant (John
4:1–45). Such should not surprise us, for it is in God’s nature to be merciful with
those whom He calls to Himself.
The ability to be gentle flows from the fruit of self-control. God does not exercise
His power in a chaotic or unbridled manner. Rather, He is in perfect control of
Himself and is thus able to combine His might with gentleness when He deals
with His people. Though we must never forget that God is omnipotent, we must
imitate His gentleness and self-control with sinners when we deal with those who
cause us difficulty and try our patience.
God’s mercy and gentleness to unrepentant sinners will not last forever. One day
they shall receive His wrath, and in some small way we will participate in the
judgment of the world (1 Cor. 6:2a). Until that day, we must imitate the
gentleness of Jesus, knowing that some to whom we give mercy may be elect
and one day come to saving faith (Matt. 5:43–48). Be gentle with those to whom
you have been severe, thereby imitating God’s mercy to all who repent
and believe.
Passages for Further Study
2 Sam. 22:36
Ps. 45:4
Prov. 25:28
Matt. 5:5
2 Tim. 1:6-7
Day 3 Gentleness – Choosing Gentleness
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason,
full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 (ESV)
A month ago I went on a much-needed vacation. I didn’t realize how burnt out I
had become until I was on the airplane. Though I didn’t want to talk to anybody,
when the immigration forms were passed around — and I realized I was without
a pen — I was forced to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to
me. Within moments of our talk, I welled up with tears. And I wept for the rest of
the airplane ride.
Gentleness.
I had been living with a “go, go, go” attitude for a long time, making decision after
decision, having to be nothing short of strong. Somewhere along the road, I had
left tenderness behind. So, when I had a moment to just sit and be still, God
allowed me to encounter an individual who flourished with a sprit of gentleness.
Through this stranger, I encountered God.
When we abide in God, He lives through us and shows Himself with joy, peace,
and kindness, in all of His beauty. Sometimes we can see how God uses us, and
at other times, we have no idea how we touch the hearts of those around us who
desperately need an encounter with God.
I’m sure this individual had no clue how they touched my spirit, but God sure did.
All I want now is to be used in this way as well, and choose to live in gentleness.
Max Lucado says, “I choose gentleness…. Nothing is won by force. I choose to
be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be
only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”
Heavenly Father, I long for Your fruit in my life. Today, I choose You and Your
ways and ask that You would live in me and through me. May You use me to
touch those in my life who need to encounter You. Amen.
Take a moment and reflect on an area of your life that you are struggling to see
the fruit of God in you. Ask the Holy Spirit to live through you in that specific way
this week. Watch and see how He will reach others because of your willingness
to surrender to His beautiful ways.
Day 4 Gentleness- Known By Our Fruit – Greg Lowrie
A little boy went over to a pastor's house, where the pastor was doing some carpentry in
his garage. The boy simply stood there and watched him for quite a long time.
After a while, the preacher wondered why this boy was watching him and was
finally so curious that he stopped and said, "Son, are you trying to pick up some
pointers on how to build something?"
The little boy replied, "No. I am just waiting to hear what a preacher says when
he hits his thumb with a hammer."
Often, we will find out what we are made of by what comes out of our mouths in
both good and bad circumstances. When we have a change in conduct and
character in our lives, it is a type of spiritual fruit.
Galatians 5:22 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . " (NKJV). A
Christian's life should be characterized by these things.
Are you producing fruit? Or is the opposite true?
Day 5 Gentleness – 10 Ideas: Reflecting the Fruit of the Spirit
How long since you’ve had a checkup to assess your spiritual health?
By Scott Williams
Not long ago, a seasoned marathoner had just crossed the finish line with an
impressive time when he suffered a heart attack and died. From the outside, he
looked to be the picture of health, but a fatal condition was hiding on the inside.
Every one of us needs an occasional visit to the doctor for a checkup to make
sure everything is working alright and that we don’t have an unknown serious
internal condition.
The same is true with our spiritual lives. As creatures of habit, we tend to go
through life on autopilot. We often miss clues that indicate that our spirit is not
enjoying the good health that God created it for.
In the same way that the doctor puts us through a battery of tests to diagnose
potential physical problems, God has given us a process of evaluating spiritual
problems in our lives:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Each of these is a characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s active presence in our daily
activities. Let’s look at each one and ask some diagnostic questions to make
sure we’re healthy.
1. Love. This word for love doesn’t refer to warm feelings but to a delibera te
attitude of good will and devotion to others. Love gives freely without looking at
whether the other person deserves it, and it gives without expecting anything
back.
Question: Am I motivated to do for others as Christ has done for me, or am I
giving in order to receive something in return?
2. Joy. Unlike happiness, joy is gladness that is completely independent of the
good or bad things that happen in the course of the day. In fact, joy denotes a
supernatural gladness given by God’s Spirit that actually seems to show up
best during hard times. This is a product of fixing your focus on God’s purposes
for the events in your life rather than on the circumstances.
Question: Am I experiencing a joy of life on a regular basis, or is my happiness
dependent on things going smoothly in my day?
3. Peace. It’s not the absence of turmoil, but the presence of tranquility even
while in a place of chaos. It is a sense of wholeness and completeness that is
content knowing that God controls the events of the day.
Question: Do I find myself frazzled by the crashing waves of turmoil in my life,
or am I experiencing “the peace that passes all comprehension” (Philippians
4:6-7)?
4. Patience. Other words that describe this fruit are lenience, l ong-suffering,
forbearance, perseverance, and steadfastness. It is the ability to endure ill
treatment from life or at the hands of others without lashing out or paying back.
Question: Am I easily set off when things go wrong or people irritate me, or am
I able to keep a godly perspective in the face of life’s irritations?
5. Kindness. When kindness is at work in a person’s life, he or she looks for
ways to adapt to meet the needs of others. It is moral goodness that overflows.
It’s also the absence of malice.
Question: Is it my goal to serve others with kindness, or am I too focused on my
own needs, desires, or problems to let the goodness of God overflow to others?
6. Goodness. While kindness is the soft side of good, goodness reflects the
character of God. Goodness in you desires to see goodness in others and is not
beyond confronting or even rebuking (as Jesus did with the money changers in
the temple) for that to happen.
Question: Does my life reflect the holiness of God, and do I desire to see others
experience God at a deep level in their own lives?
7. Faithfulness. A faithful person is one with real integrity. He or she is
someone others can look to as an example, and someone who is truly devoted
to others and to Christ. Our natural self always wants to be in charge, but Spiritcontrolled faithfulness is evident in the life of a person who seeks good for
others and glory for God.
Question: Are there areas of hypocrisy and indifference toward others in my
life, or is my life characterized by faith in Christ and faithfulness to those
around me?
8. Gentleness. Meekness is not weakness. Gentleness is not without power, it
just chooses to defer to others. It forgives others, corrects with kindness, and
lives in tranquility.
Question: Do I come across to others as brash and headstrong, or am I allowing
the grace of God to flow through me to others?
9. Self-control. Our fleshly desires, Scripture tells us, are continually at odds
with God’s Spirit and always want to be in charge. Self -control is literally
releasing our grip on the fleshly desires, choosing instead to be controlled by
the Holy Spirit. It is power focused in the right place.
Question: Are my fleshly desires controlling my life, or am I allowing the Spirit
to direct me to the things that please God and serve others?
10. Walk by the Spirit. While not a fruit of the Spirit, the final item on the
checkup produces all nine qualities listed above. When we follow the Spirit’s
lead instead of being led by our self -focused desires, He produces the fruit.
But even when we don’t walk by the Spirit, He is the very one who convicts us
that things are not in proper order in our lives.
God promises that if we are willing to admit that we have been walking our own
way and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing, He wi ll empower us through His
Spirit to live above ourselves and live the abundant life for which He has
created us.
Question: Am I actively depending on the Holy Spirit to guide me in God’s ways
so I don’t get wrapped up in myself? If not, am I willing to con fess to God that
His ways are better than mine, and that I need the Spirit’s guidance to live
above the fray?
Day 6 Gentleness –Are you strong enough to be gentle? By Jim Long
You're walking down the hall, and you run into a friend you haven't seen in a
while. She's angry, and she starts yelling at you for something you didn't do.
She's not even making sense. People start to stare. You can't get a word in
edgewise.
Your expression turns from surprise and confusion to anger. Your inclination is to
lash out at her, just as she's lashing out at you. You could raise your voice to
hers. You could choose the words you know will cut deep. But experience has
taught you that anger only increases anger. What you need instead is the
strength to be gentle and calm.
The apostle Paul knew misunderstanding and bickering can erupt among people
who claim to be Christians. Even in church, people fight and argue and cut each
other down. How do you respond without getting swept up in the fray? Paul says,
be gentle (Ephesians 4:2).
If you've ever stood face-to-face with a very angry person, you know it requires
great strength of character to respond with gentleness.
Jesus gave us a powerful example the last week of his life when he rode into a
city controlled by his enemies. He didn't come on a big white horse, ready for
battle. No, prophets had predicted that the king would come, "gentle and riding
on a donkey, on a colt" (Zechariah 9:9).
And even after Jesus was hauled in front of Pilate and falsely accused by the
priests and elders, he stayed steady and calm. "Jesus made no reply," it says in
Matthew 27:14, "not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the
governor."
Remember: The gentleness of Jesus was a magnet that drew people to him. It
astounded them. How could anyone have such strength?
It is the strength of gentleness that calms anger and silences arguments. A quiet
answer, not a loud, forceful retort.
Over and over again, God points to gentleness as one of the character traits he
wants to form within us. To be like Jesus, we must draw on God's strength to be
gentle. When we do, we will find one of the great mysteries of friendship opening
before us. People will be drawn by our gentleness. It can make them appreciative
of our help and curious about our inner strength.
From the Word:
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Proverbs 15:1
What has the power to soothe anger, calm violence, and bring peace to tense
situations? It's gentleness.
The Power Pack Challenge
In this "Power Pack," we focus on gentleness. We'd like to challenge you to study
Scripture passages about gentleness. Then, after the end of this Challenge, we
hope you'll be able to see God developing the strength of gentleness in you.
Read it!
Powerful gentleness Because strength is so admired in our culture, we hear a
word like gentleness and get the wrong idea. Like, isn't gentle the same as
wimpy and weak?
Actually, gentleness is strength! Nothing is stronger. God is gentle, but he is not
weak. It was the gentleness of Jesus that drew people to him. There's great
friendship-power in … you guessed it, gentleness.
1.
2.
3.
4.
So how did Jesus express the strength of gentleness to his closest friends at
the end of his life? Look at the book of John, chapters 13-17. Read each
chapter with an open notebook next to you, and ask yourself these questions:
What did Jesus say and do?
What didn't he say and do?
What might I have done in the same situation?
How can I apply his example to my life?
Day 7 – Gentleness – What is Gentleness?
Question: "The Fruit of the Holy Spirit – What is gentleness?"
Answer: Galatians 5:22-23 says that the Holy Spirit works in us to be more like
Christ (Ephesians 4:14-16), and part of the fruit, or results, of that work is
gentleness. Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness.
Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained
behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for
revenge, and self-aggrandizement.
It takes a strong person to be truly gentle. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow gives us
a wonderful illustration of gentleness in “The Village Blacksmith.” In the poem,
the main character is described thus:
“The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.”
However, in church, as he hears his daughter singing a hymn, the smith is
overcome with emotion, “And with his hard, rough hand he wipes / A tear out of
his eyes.” This is gentleness. Might restrained. Humility and grace.
God wants us to give Him control of our lives. Relying on our own logic, we have
no impetus to submit to God's leadership. With the wisdom given to us by the
Holy Spirit, however, we begin to see why we should completely submit to God
as Lord of our lives. Human power under human control is a half-broken weapon
in the hands of a child. But gentleness places our strength under God's guidance;
it is a powerful tool for God's kingdom.
Every person is powerful. We can speak words that influence others; we can act
in ways that help or hurt; and we can choose what influences will inform our
words and actions. Gentleness constrains and channels that power. To be gentle
is to recognize that God's ways and thoughts are high above our own (Isaiah
55:9). It is to humbly realize that our worldviews are shaped by exposure to sin
and the misinterpretation of experience. It is to accept God's worldview, reflecting
truth about the spiritual and the material worlds.
It is to our advantage to have a gentle attitude toward God because He
is omniscient and we are not. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the
earth?" God challenges Job. "Tell Me, if you have understanding" (Job 38:4).
God knows everything of the past, present, and future (1 John 3:20); we can't
even get the weather forecast right. Like a petulant teenager to his parents, we
may cry out, "You just don't understand!" but God does understand, more than
we could possibly know (Psalm 44:21).
When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with
easiness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation
is far more important than our pride (2 Timothy 24-25). We will forgive readily,
because any offense toward us is nothing compared to our offenses against
God—offenses He's already forgiven (Matthew 18:23-35). Competition and
sectarianism will disappear, as the goal becomes less about ourselves and more
about preaching the gospel (Philippians 1:15-18). John the Baptist was a fiery
preacher, yet he evinced true gentleness when he said, “[Jesus] must become
greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).
Gentleness also means giving up the right to judge what is best for ourselves and
others. God is not as concerned with our comfort as He is concerned with our
spiritual growth, and He knows how to grow us far better than we do. Gentleness
means that we accept that the rain falls on the evil and the just and that God may
use methods we don't like to reach our hearts and the hearts of others.
Finally, to live in a spirit of gentleness toward God is to accept His judgment on
people and issues. We tend to think it is gentle to go easy on people and try to
justify actions that God has called sin. Or to let someone continue in sin without
speaking the truth. But Paul says, "If anyone is caught in a trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" (Galatians 6:1). This doesn't
mean to be so soft that the sinner doesn't realize he's sinned. It means to
confront the brother in a manner that is in line with Scripture—to be mild, loving,
encouraging, and clear about the holiness that God calls us to.
Jesus gave us the perfect picture of gentleness: “See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5), and now He offers us His
gentleness as a gift. If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will be filled with
fruit of gentleness.