Most of us are not interested in learning how to be gentle. If
the truth be known, most of us are not inclined to be gentle
because we feel we live in a
”
dog eat dog
”
world, and it often seems like we’re wearing milkbone underwear!
But the Bible says gentleness is not weakness, but power! It
describes gentleness as a force that can be used to bring about
positive change in yourself, your family, your job and all your
relationships.
Most of us are not interested in learning how to be gentle. If the truth be known, most of us are not inclined to be gentle because we feel we live in a “dog eat dog” world, and it often seems like we’re wearing milkbone underwear! But the Bible says gentleness is not weakness, but power! It describes gentleness as a force that can be used to bring about positive change in yourself, your family, your job and all your relationships.
Using the word “power” as an acrostic, over the next two weeks we will look at five characteristics that are integral characteristics of gentleness that will give you the power to achieve your maximum potential.
The “P” stands for personality. Gentle people have their personality under God’s control. There are no “right” or “wrong” personalities; any personality can reveal positive or negative traits, and all of us have some character traits that need smoothing out.
Even the 12 apostles had this problem. Once Peter, John and James, three of Jesus’ closest disciples, were traveling with Jesus to Jerusalem. When a group of people refused to give Jesus the respect they thought He deserved, they were insulted and asked, “What do you think Master, should we call down fire from heaven on them?”
Obviously, these were not very gentle men. After this, the mother of John and James came and asked Jesus to guarantee her sons top billing in heaven (apparently Mom had problems too). Time and time again, we see major personality flaws and huge egos… sound like anyone you know?
How could Jesus cope with such ungodliness? The same way He copes with it in you and I: He saw their potential. Jesus knew that as they gave Him their personalities, they would change, and that’s exactly what happened.
Jesus wants to do the same with us. He gives us the key to success in John 15:4, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” The vine is Jesus; when we make the decision to live a life of obedience to Christ, our entire outlook on life will change.
This leads us to the “O” in our P.O.W.E.R. acrostic: outlook. Our outlook determines two things: our attitude and our actions. In fact, our actions are usually determined by our attitude.
I still remember my daughter’s bloodcurdling cry one day about a “monster bug” that was attacking her. I ran to the yard fully prepared to do battle with the beast, only to discover the “bug from Hell” was only a cricket. Her attitude of fear about bugs had determined her action, much like our attitude determines our actions. The way we relate to homeless people, homosexuals, teenagers, police, our children, etc. speaks volumes about our outlook on life.
When our outlook comes under God’s control it broadens: We begin to look at others the way God looks at them. This causes us to become more understanding and less demanding. In 2 Peter 1:7 we are encouraged to “learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly… This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply.”
Notice the progression: First we put aside selfishness; this gives us patience and godliness, which leads to enjoying our relationships and culminates in a deep and abiding love for the people around us.
Next week we will continue our look at how gentleness, under God’s control, can become power.
