Do you value gentleness or view it as weakness? Some people think noise and coarseness show strength. The Bible teaches the opposite. Gentleness is powerful.
Are You Gentle?
How do you treat your weaknesses? Do you castigate yourself when you fall short of your standards or impose stringent disciplines to overcome your weaknesses? Or, do you treat yourself with compassion?
How do you treat those who disappoint you, are caught in sin, or don’t share your views? Do you raise your voice and pound the table to hold their attention? Do you hope to win them through quarreling?
Using gentleness to combat sin and weakness may seem counterintuitive. Yet, it can change a king’s heart and break a bone. It may not be your natural response, but this supernatural choice carries divine power.
The Gifts of Gentleness
1. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus.
Gentleness is powerful because it is godly. Jesus describes Himself as gentle. When we’re gentle with ourselves and with others, we represent and experience Him.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”(Matt. 11:29 NIV).
Consider how you talk to yourself. Are you kind? Do you allow time for rest, room for growth, and grace for mistakes?
Your gentleness makes me great” (Ps. 18:35 GW).
2. Gentleness moves hearts.
Gentleness is more powerful than yelling, arguing, or using harsh discipline.
#Gentleness is more powerful than yelling, arguing, or using harsh discipline. #RefreshingFaith Share on XA gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare” (Pro. 15:1 NLT
“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone” (Pro. 25:15 NIV).
3. Gentleness helps restore those who’ve fallen away.
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path (Gal. 6:1 NLT)
4. Gentleness empowers speech.
With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25 NASB).
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15 NIV).
5. Gentleness reveals wisdom.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom” (Jas. 3:13 NASB).
“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others” (Jas. 3:17 NLT).
6. Gentleness empowers godly leadership.
He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money” (1 Tim. 3:3 NLT).
7. Gentleness is beautiful and precious to God.
Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious” (1 Pet. 3:4 GW).
What if I’m Not Naturally Gentle?
We can’t manufacture a gentle spirit. However, as we surrender each aspect of our lives to God, His Spirit fills and empowers us to look like Jesus (Gal. 5:16). We ask Him to fill us, and then by faith, we live as His word instructs.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: … gentleness, and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23 NLT).
“As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient” (Col. 3:12 GW).
“Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Phil. 4:5 NIV).
“Be humble and gentle in every way” (Ephes. 4:2 GW).
What is your favorite verse or story showing the power of gentleness?
Click here to comment.
Blessings,
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Great points and lots of encouragement Ms. Debbie. Isn’t it interesting how some of us seem to offer less gentleness to those in whom we hold to the highest standards (namely ourselves and our family members). Great reminders here ma’am. Thank you!
J.D., that is great insight. Sad but true. Thanks!
God is always so gracious and gentle with me – I have to say I and most people definitely respond much more readily to gentleness than harshness. This was so well set forth. Thank you Debbie.
Ann, I agree. Gentleness can stop emotions from escalating.
I love this devo on gentleness Debbie! Being a New Yorker and coming from a loud family, I’m not naturally quiet and gentle, but so desire this fruit of the spirit. I believe Im growing in it as I get older. I’m so thankful that where we are weak God can make us strong through His Spirit. Wow gentle words can break a bone. Powerful indeed!
Janice, when my daughter and I were in Boston, everywhere people seemed to talk loudly. My daughter, who was born with a loud voice, looked at me and said, “I feel so at home here!” I guess some ways of speaking may be cultural, but some are inborn. We need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for our individual personalities too.
Excellent article! So glad I took the time to read! 🙂
I’m printing it off. thanks for your labor!
Thank you, April!
My Daddy was a true “gentleman”. He shared how to be gentle through his words and actions.
Melissa, I love how you connected gentle with your gentleman father! Thank you so much.
I’ve thought that my own gentleness was at its peak when my children were the youngest. Something about babies can bring out the gentleness in all of us. But I want to be as gentle with someone in middle-age as with a baby. 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement, Debbie!
Lisa, what a sweet picture of carrying the gentleness we feel towards a baby to all people.
Wonderful reminders to not only be gentle with how we respond to others, but also with how we respond to our self.
Sandy, sometimes we probably all need that reminder. 🙂
lovely reminder and gentle challenges to live out the fruit of the spirit of gentleness. thank you for this post, Debbie.
Thank you, Mariel!
Really really liked this. For some time I’ve been chewing over this fruit of the Spirit. I loved how you helped organize some of those thoughts. Great post!
I’m sure you could add to it. Thanks, Sylvia!
May God grant us the wisdom of gentleness. Love this post. God bless!
Nancy, I love seeing how Scripture connects wisdom with gentleness. Thanks for reading.
Hi Debbie.
I love the quality of gentleness and appreciate the gifts you’ve laid out in this post. My favorite is #3. I’ve tried to be the sort of parent who is gentle in speech. I hope my children will remember me that way.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Tammy, you remind me of the Proverbs 31 woman. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue!
When we see the gentleness of Christ we see strength. The world is upside down. It portrays Christian gentleness with weakness. This is where humility comes in to submit to God’s way and not our own. Insightful post to bring to light the true meaning of this fruit of the Spirit.
Barbara, the world’s values are upside down from what Jesus taught. How easy it is to allow our flesh instead of the Spirit guide us.
Thanks for the reminder that gentleness is Biblical. We don’t have to be harsh to demand our way, but can use gentleness to win people over.
Well said, Joanna!