My wish is that my children will live out kindness. As a follower of Jesus, I need to be a good role model of kindness for them. We must be kind to other people and to our environment, all of which are God’s creations. With kindness comes gentleness. Being gentle to people and their feelings, being gentle to plants and animals show our kindness.
We can learn how to be gentle from God’s example. God leads in His gentleness. These are the ways that God directs me:
- Through His Word
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
- With a quiet voice
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV)
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
- And through other people
Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
God allows me to make choices and suffer the consequences of my choices, but He also knows how to pull me gently back into His fold. God gently helps me back onto His path. He desires to lovingly correct me even if I purposely disobey.
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Our words and actions are reflections of our hearts. I ask God for a heart of gentleness.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
While God wants me to be gentle on the outside, He also wants my heart to be gentle. When my heart is full of gentleness, God can use me to bless others.
1 Peter 3:4 (NIV)
4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
I need to have gentleness in speech, because according to God:
Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
I need to show gentleness since actions speak louder than words. My actions are evidence of my gentleness, and when I make an effort to be gentle with others, I show God’s character to the world.
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
What are the instances that you need to show your gentleness the most?
Note: I’m sharing this from the plan called Spirit of Gentleness by FocusontheFamily.com on YouVersion.
