The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness.
OCTOBER 10, 2007 (WEDNESDAY) – The fruit of the Spirit is Gentleness.
Gentleness is not weakness. It is a choice. Many times a very strong person chooses to be gentle, as when a big, strong man holds a new baby in his arms.
The Lord is gentle in his dealings with us. If that were not the case, we would be destroyed by a simple stare from Him. He wants His people to be gentle also.
Perhaps a good way to discern the meaning of “gentle,” is to look at its opposites, “abrasive, caustic, coarse, hard, harsh, rough, scathing, stern.” Gentleness is very different from any of those qualities. While not many people would lay claim to being proficiently harsh, etc., many are quite adept at exhibiting these traits. They sound much like the “acts of the sinful nature” in Galatians 5:19-21.
Jesus chose to be gentle with us. As he walked the earth long ago, people flocked to hear Him, because they did not fear Him.
Not that He was powerless – His miracles demonstrate His power – but He chose to be gentle. His invitation reflects this: “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).”
Gentleness is commended by the Scriptures: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger (Prov 15:1 NASB).”
Gentleness in interacting with others is a companion to all the fruit of the Spirit. That’s why the word, “fruit,” is singular. The fruit is a cluster. As a popular song decades ago declared, “You can’t have one without the other.” So if you’ve toyed with the idea of selecting which fruit you want, get over it. It’s all or none.
The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness.