Read It: Galatians 5:22, Psalm 31:11, Matthew 5:5
Live It:
In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” That’s a big promise that means there is “inherit the earth kind of power” in Gentleness! That tells us that there is a profound, hidden power in gentleness. However, many of us don’t associate gentleness with strength and power. We tend to view it as weakness, passivity, or just a naturally quiet demeanor. But, if we are striving to allow the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives, we need to be ready and willing to do something that may seem counter-culture.
Jesus often did things that were counter-culture and if we are trying to train to be like Jesus, we need to be willing to be gentle, even if it means being different. Not only does gentleness cause you to have better relationships, but gentleness also gives you rest for your soul. August is a busy time for many, children going back to school, schedules are being adjusted and change is starting to take place. Maybe living out gentleness in your life is just what you need at this point and time.
Living this out means we have to completely relinquish control. We must remind ourselves that we cannot simply muster up gentleness on our own willpower. It only happens when we step aside and let God take the driver’s seat of our lives. Allow him to show his gentleness in your life because until we see how gentle God is, it’s very difficult to see what a strength it can be in our lives. In the Galatians scripture, the meaning of the word gentleness is power under control. A good example of this is when NASA sends a rocket into space, there is a lot of power in the explosion that propels the rocket, but it is a power under control, a power that’s on a certain trajectory.
As you walk through this week, rely more on God and less on willpower. Start small by choosing just one specific area—or one specific relationship—where you can be gentle. It will take time, focus on progress, not perfection, just take that first step today and watch how God begins to shift your life!
Pastor James