My study Bible tells me that gentleness is the same as meekness. Meekness, according to my Bible definition, is a"humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offense, yet having no desire for revenge".
WOW....thinking about what happens when someone talks nasty to me or wants to talk about me behind my back...I don't like it. Who would? But in this definition, a gentle person would not retaliate or seek revenge for that offense against them. That means doing to them what they've done to me is out of the question. That means having the quality of gentleness/meekness we humble ourselves to be better than that. That we don't even want to get even with them.
I look at people now in one of two ways. The person either knows Jesus or they don't. If they don't know Him, I can't hold them to the standards of the Bible. They don't know any better than what the world teaches them. So....when rude things are said and done, I can't be upset because they don't know how Jesus teaches us to be toward one another. My prayer is one day they would come to know Him and understand, but until then, we need to show grace and love.....just like God has shown us who have decided to love and follow Him.
The biggest example of a gentle/meek man is Jesus himself. Think about all he went through. He was beat, falsely accused, yelled at, cussed at, mocked, spit on, ridiculed,deserted by His friends/family, laughed at, stripped, nailed to a cross, bled, and died.....yet He never spoke a harsh word to anyone. He never sought revenge for His undue punishment. He was submissive to the Father in carrying out His plan for us. His perfect plan of salvation for mankind put into place before the creation of the world. He was born to die.....die a horrible death, so we could be forgiven by a holy God and be reconciled to Him. The wrath of God was spilled out on Jesus on that cross..... FOR US! That's gentleness. That's love in the deepest sense of the word. That's why we praise Him! Follow His example of gentleness and you'll be blessed and have more peace than you can measure. God is good......all the time!
This is yet another area where I have much difficulty. Just when I think I'm getting better someone does something and the wheels starting turning on how I can get them back. I never carry it out, but in my head I am sure getting even with those people. I sometimes get even with people ( in my head ), before they do anything. When I catch myself feeling like this, I remember about how Jesus said we are to forgive. I remember the Lord's prayer and how I ask for forgiveness when I say it. So, maybe I'm getting a little better, but the best thing would be for me not to think it at all and for me to pray. Pray for all those hurting in one way or another. Pray for those who are in a dark place. Pray for those that don't know what Jesus can do for them.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the last paragraph I feel ashamed of myself because I don't forgive or love as I should. Love others the way Jesus loved us. Love others the way our mighty God loves us, so much so that he sent his son to take our place.
I will end this post with my prayer for myself. " Father please help me to forgive as you have forgiven me. Let me love others as Jesus loved me. Help me Lord be better. Help me love others as you command. Keep the Holy Spirit inside me and let it flow throughout this world. Let others come to you. Show them that by living as you command, this world will truly be heaven on Earth, so you get the glory you deserve. I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen. "
The last fruit is self control and in closing of all these posts I am going to say this......all these fruits are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We don't get that mastered all at once. We don't wake up one day and automatically have a change to be exactly like Jesus. These things take time and circumstances to cultivate in our lives. We have Jesus as the ultimate example.. So we keep pressing on.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you because you are recongnizing things in your life that need work. That makes us humble and we can grow closer to God as a result of that. There is a problem when we don't see the wrong we door think and just make excuses and cover it. When you confess and repent, we grow to be more and more like Him. God is using you Bruce and your honesty is amazing. Keep going!
Thanks Tammy.
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