oxman
01-14-2010, 05:16 PM
Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
When we are told that we will bear the fruit of the spirit called gentleness, what does that mean?
Gentleness is directly tied with God’s kindness. Because God is kind, He is gentle. It is an attribute that flows directly out of God’s disposition.
In the movies, Jesus is depicted as being this sad and long-faced fellow who slowly walks around and softly touches people…as if that is meekness. But that’s not meekness at all!
Meekness is power under perfect control. Meekness is having the hands of a carpenter—hammering large planks of wood together—and yet gently holding a baby in His hands.
Just think of the wonder of these statements: “Jesus reached out and touched the man…immediately he was cured” (Matthew 8:3) or “He touched her hand and the fever l eft her” (Matthew 8:15). This was more than just a carpenter who was touching these people—it was the God who created the heavens and the earth. Now, that’s meekness!
That’s the power of God’s love in gentle action…and that’s the fruit of the God’s Spirit of gentleness alive in you!
courtesy of www.rodparsley.com (http://www.rodparsley.com)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
When we are told that we will bear the fruit of the spirit called gentleness, what does that mean?
Gentleness is directly tied with God’s kindness. Because God is kind, He is gentle. It is an attribute that flows directly out of God’s disposition.
In the movies, Jesus is depicted as being this sad and long-faced fellow who slowly walks around and softly touches people…as if that is meekness. But that’s not meekness at all!
Meekness is power under perfect control. Meekness is having the hands of a carpenter—hammering large planks of wood together—and yet gently holding a baby in His hands.
Just think of the wonder of these statements: “Jesus reached out and touched the man…immediately he was cured” (Matthew 8:3) or “He touched her hand and the fever l eft her” (Matthew 8:15). This was more than just a carpenter who was touching these people—it was the God who created the heavens and the earth. Now, that’s meekness!
That’s the power of God’s love in gentle action…and that’s the fruit of the God’s Spirit of gentleness alive in you!
courtesy of www.rodparsley.com (http://www.rodparsley.com)