Mother's Day 2024

Last week, Romans 15:7-14, we saw that we need to be competent to counsel one another.

We need to have:

Knowledge

Goodness

Hope

As we were looking at goodness, I was reminded of 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12

1 Thessalonians 2:6–12 NASB 2020

nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

In that passage, we saw Paul’s goodness, his desire for what is best for the believers with whom he was working.

That is a goal to which we all need to strive. Today, let’s take some time to look at one aspect of Goodness: Gentleness.

1 Thessalonians 2:6–7 NASB 2020

nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children,

note: variant - children/gentle

νήπιος OR ἤπιος

Gentleness

As we see here, Paul had authority as Christ’s apostles. As Paul wrote this, he did write Christ before the word apostle to emphasize where his authority came from.

He could have just been authoritative. However, as a follower of Christ, he was gentle.

The analogy he used is one to which most of us can relate.

“As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”

What is Gentleness?

Dictionary of Bible Themes 8264 gentleness

gentleness

An expression of compassion, seen in God’s dealings with the frail and weak, and expected of believers in their dealings with others.

There are different words in the Greek New Testament that are translated as Gentle.

Some deal more with the sense of mildness.

Another deals more with leniency, like when a Judge could give a harsher sentence, but does not. They are more lenient.

This one emphasizes more of the kindness aspect of being gentle.

Gentle: mild, lenient, merciful, compassionate, kind

A Mother’s Touch

mild, soft, loving touch.

warmth

1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV

so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

A Mother’s Care

caring, merciful

kind

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV

Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

A Mother’s Sacrifice

Sacrificial

lenient

this is a picture of God’s compassion on us

God’s Gentleness

Psalm 103:1–5 NIV

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

mild, merciful, compassionate, kind, lenient

Psalm 103:8–11 NIV

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

Christ’s Gentleness

Matthew 11:28–29 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 8:3–11 NIV

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Back to 1 Thessalonians. Paul does make another analogy to motherhood.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 NIV

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–18 NIV

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.