Gentleness: Christ on Display in our Every Day
Godly Character
We find gentleness listed among the Godly characteristics defined as the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
When we display gentleness to others, our power to unleash our irritation, anger or frustration is kept in check by God’s love, grace and honor, allowing His kindness to leave its essence of mercy lingering on in our self-serving world.
When studying the Fruit of the Spirit, gentleness is a critical quality for Christians because we know God has shown gentleness toward us.
Jesus’ greatest demonstration of gentleness, strength under control, is displayed in full and living color, as He hung on the cross to die for our sins. Jesus could have chosen to avoid this painful self-sacrifice, but He yielded His will to the Father’s will.
We know that Jesus possesses all power and authority in heaven and on earth. We get a glimpse of this through His righteous anger as He cleared the Temple by overturning tables of money-changers who were taking advantage of worshipers. In no uncertain terms, Jesus demonstrates that gentleness is not weakness, but power under control, used in accordance with God’s truth, holiness and mercy.
Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus spared us the punishment we deserved, as a sinful people in rebellion against God. God could have released His righteous judgment upon us, bringing us to a swift and woeful end, but rather He chose to send His own Son to save us. Gentleness, strength under control, God’s control.
It stands to reason that as followers of Christ, we desire to exude the fragrance of gentleness, out of gratitude for the gentle touch God has extended to us and to reflect the gentleness of our powerful, gentle Savior.
But how do we grow in gentleness?
We cannot drum up this quality within ourselves by telling ourselves to be more gentle or by wishing it to be so. Gentleness, like any Fruit of the Spirit, is grown by abiding in Christ.