Gentleness

So what does gentleness even mean? So like I have done for several weeks to get a deeper understanding of the word I go to the Greek. The Bible Sense Lexicon defines the Greek word here as “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered.” In some of my reading It described this gentleness as a type of humility. So to grow in our understanding of this word we are going to look at a couple other places it is used in the New Testament

What Drives Gentleness?

Any guess on what godly characteristic that drives us to walk in gentleness? Agape. We are going to look at Ephesians 4:2:

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Agape inspires gentleness.

No matter what someone has done we are called to walk with humility not pride, gentleness, not brashness; with patience, not haste.

The only way you can do any of these things is through agape. God’s unconditional love. We have done a lot to deserve God’s wrath, but he has steadily shown us humility, gentleness, and patience. The deeper we grow in our understanding of God’s agape the more we will have these traits evident in our lives.

humility not pride

This is knowing you do not always have to say something. This can be not making a scene when others are. This can be choosing to take the background.

Jesus went to the cross humbly. Jesus faced persecution humbly. What sense does it make for the Creator to run him over so badly? That took more humility than we can ever imagine.

Humility takes great self control, while pride takes no control, pride will run rampant. this is why pride comes before the fall, because their is a lack of self control. Pride is a bull in the china shop.

Gentleness keeps you from unintentionally destroying what is valuable.

That valuable is your testimony, relationships, etc.

gentleness, not brashness

Sometimes we may want to chew someone out or knock their light out. Sometimes we may want to get loud with someone. But are these the right things to do? No.

Jesus may have gotten angry at times, but he never let that anger overtake him. Anger is a dangerous thing when we give it a foothold to control us.

Many times we know our strength in knowledge or muscle. We may know we could end the situation easily with brashness, but what will people be talking about? How God gave you strength? or how you humiliated someone?

with patience, not haste.

We may want to resolve something quick, but rarely the quick fix is the best fix.

Jesus showed patience in his ministry and the lack of people’s faith.

Tortoise and the hare.

Strength Found in Gentleness

Gentleness makes us act differently than all people. Gentleness make us act differently in trials/storms of life. So now we are going to look at 1 Peter 3:15-16

1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Again we see a connection on what drives gentleness. God. We have to always be a ready to give a reason for the hope in us.

Our love for God’s Word keeps us steady in the trials and arms us with gentleness.

And you want to know the mind blowing thing. The people who walk in the gentleness of Christ are often the ones attacked the hardest and face the most. The world sees gentleness as weakness. When in fact gentleness is a great strength. It takes great self-control to remain gentle when the world throws all kind of punches at you. When the world abuses, it is tempting to abuse back. It takes strength to remain calm and respond with gentleness.

Gentleness is great strength.

Striving to be gentle in trials benefits you in several ways. One a “good conscience”. If you let gentleness stay your attitude when you look back on the storm you will not regret the way you carried yourself. Don’t add fuel to a fire.

Gentleness helps us work towards a solution not away from a solution.

Gentleness helps you stay above reproach. It keeps you from giving spiritual ammunition to your enemies.

Our gentleness will eventually put those who oppose us for good to shame. Will we always immediately see this shame? No, for some the shame may be experienced on judgment day.