Chapter 9: "Easy Does It!"

Chapter 9:  "Easy Does It!"

 As I studied the Bible, I began to realize that the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22-23 are characteristics that God wants each of His children to have. And the list includes gentleness.

……

I had interpreted 1 Peter 3: 3-4 all wrong. It says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” A gentle spirit has nothing to do with one’s personality. God created us with great diversity in our personalities, but each of us should have a quiet and gentle spirit. We can be loud on the outside and still be hushed on the inside. The Lord Jesus said that He was “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11: 29, emphasis added). Yet He wanted both boisterous, impetuous Peter as well as loving John to emulate Him. A number of synonyms for gentleness show us that it is not confined to one personality type — words such as kindly, tender, peaceful, compassionate, tolerant, merciful, thoughtful, and considerate. One can be loud and kindly, excitable and tender, bubbling and peaceful, talkative and compassionate, effervescent and considerate.

……

Some specific positions and situations demand gentleness.  For instance, Paul to ld Timothy that an overseer must be "gentle, not quarrelsome" (1 Timothy 3:3).  Paul, a leader of leaders, was an example to us of his gentleness toward the Thessalonians, "like a mother caring for her little children" (! Thessalonians 2:7).  But just because we (may) not be overseers, or akin to the apostle Paul, we are not free of responsibility.  We are to pray for God's wisdom (see James 1:5), and gentleness is a quality of that wisdom (see James 3:17).  As servants of the Lord, we are to be gentle toward  everyone (see 2 Timothy 2:24). According to Titus 3:2, we are to be peaceable and gentle to all. 

……

 The results of gentle speech are phenomenal! Leaders can be persuaded and hurts can be healed (see Proverbs 25: 15 and 16: 24). The truth that stands out to me is in Proverbs 15: 1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” And it works! Even when your motives are all wrong.

……

If we were to analyze all the people we know that we could describe as gentle, some common denominators would be found.  My list would go something like this:

1.  Voice. A gentle person does not scream! A gentle answer turns away wrath partly because the tone must be soft, without rancor, not strident.  (One translation of Proverbs 15:1 uses the word soft.)  For some of us, this may mean asking God for extra control in difficult situations.

2. Facial expressions. An angry countenance, tight lips, a dour look -- all convey a lack of gentleness.

3. Manner. A gentle person is kind, tolerant, and compassionate, thinking of others' feelings before he thinks of his own.

4. Attitude. A gentle person is unbiased, not bigoted, or judgmental. 

……

We don't have an option to be gentle. God commands it.   It is a fruit of the Hoy Spirit who indwells us.  We need to ask God for his Spirit to express his gentleness through us.

……

How do you define gentleness?

Read 1st Peter 3:3-4.  How do we strive for these attributes in all our lives regardless of gender?

Write 2 Timothy 2:22-24.  write this verse in your own words. 

Think through this last week, were there times your facile expressions, your body language, your tone of voice or perhaps your very words were not gentle?  Who were you with and what spurred you to lose your gentle spirit?

What would make you more gentle?  How do you foster other "Fruit of the Spirit?"