Loving Gentleness

 

Moving along in our Lenten journey with Colossians 3:12 and a sense of reflection, we turn to the latest word on this path – gentleness.  If we all only responded with a sense of gentleness, how different our lives would be!  As we are beginning to see, many of the values shared in Colossians 3:12 work closely together.  Gentleness continues on that path.  Gentleness can be defined as being tender, mild-mannered, or courteous.  I like the word tender – not tough.  It can even be seen as a bit vulnerable.  When I view the Biblical definition, it may even contain the word meekness.  Once again, I view the world around me, reflecting on my own actions, and there are situations where I certainly would not use the word tender or meekness to describe these moments.

What does one gain by being gentle?  I mean, if we really want something done, how does gentleness get to the end result?  If we want to get our point across, ensuring we are correct, should we be displaying tenderness and vulnerability?  What happened to ‘tough love’?  As Christians, part of our mission is to save the unbelievers.  Shouldn’t we affirm strongly what we know and how they should repent?

Oh, my friends, the answer to sharing a sense of gentleness is seen throughout the Bible.  The answer, according to Paul in his letter to the Colossians, is YES, we should be displaying gentleness.  When I think of how Jesus shared a sense of gentleness while He was here on earth, it confirms the importance of bringing gentleness into our lives.  Jesus did not whip non-believers into believers.  Jesus did not push and shove the masses to belief. 

Jesus used His strong hand with a gentle touch.  Stories in the Bible share this in numerous ways.  One of the best is the view that Jesus is our Shephard – gathering His lambs.  He does not strike out in anger with the one sheep leaving the flock but gently guides the sheep back to the flock.  I am sure there are countless times have we left Jesus’ flock!  How many times have we doubted His will or walked against His path?  Jesus is waiting for us when we stray, gently guiding us back.  His gentleness is displaying in full view as He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He does not enter with a sense of majesty.  He enters on a lowly donkey, sharing a sense of gentleness and humbleness.

It is time for us to show gentleness.  It is time to have a soft touch and a sense of gathering up versus breaking down.  We will always fall short of our ability to show any of these values day in and day out.  Our goal is to move towards our role model, Jesus, in all we do.  His love and gentleness for us is seen each day in our lives.  We deserve His wrath, not His gentleness, for our sinful nature.  Jesus does not work that way!  His compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness are seen in the way He touches our lives.  May we do the same in those lives we touch.  Let us have simple faith that His will should be done.

Dearest Jesus, you model the word gentleness for us so beautifully.  May we reflect on the ways we can display a greater sense of gentleness to those around us.  Help us to act, and react, in a tender and loving way.  Amen!