You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great. You enlarge my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped. Psalm 18:35-36.
Today your LORD (יהה) God says:
Gentleness. My Son was gentle and humble in heart, in Him you find rest and restoration. And in seeing Him, you see Me. Gracious and gentle but strong and the Most High, creator of all. But equal to My majesty is My mercy.
Gentleness is strength. Harshness, anger are weakness. A gentle answer calms wrath. Gentleness wins. The meek will inherit the earth.
Today we continue our lessons on being fruitful with Life Lesson No. 10: Gentleness. For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Gentleness is a characteristic of Mine. I have stooped to make you great. I was in Christ reconciling the world to Myself, not counting your sins and trespasses against you but taking them all on Myself in My Son and in Him making you who believe righteous with My own righteousness. Righteousness by faith. The blessing of Abraham is righteousness by faith alone. And through Christ Jesus it has come upon all people who believe so you can receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
In your life today, what does it mean to produce gentleness? Gentleness is the quality of the divine nature whereby you respond to everything in peace without malice or rancor. It does justice but not in a harsh manner. It is firm and calm, not throwing insults but speaking the TRUTH in love. It is true nobility of stature and conduct that does not flinch or backdown but does not crush another’s value. Jesus is did not contend or cry out in the streets, a bruised reed, He will not crush, a smoldering wick He will not quench, until justice is done. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. Isaiah 40:11.
Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I have put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor make His voice heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench, until He brings forth justice to victory. And in His name the nations will hope. Matthew 12:18-21. He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth. Isaiah 42:1-4.
Gentleness is built on love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. It is another ingredient in the fruit produced by your spirit when you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
A gentle person is not contentious, harsh, or rude. A gentle person is humble. Jesus is gentle and humble of heart and your souls can find rest and restoration in Him. The gentleness of Jacob’s son Joseph made him a source of comfort and provision to his brothers though they had hated him and treated him harshly. They were not gentle; they had no compassion. A jealous, ambitious person will never be gentle.
A harsh tyrant will have an unhappy and rebellious people. Solomon’s son Rehoboam would have kept Israel a united nation of all twelve tribes if he had shown gentleness to the people, but he chose instead to be proud and speak to them harshly.
This is what happened, when Solomon died all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” Then he said to them, “Depart for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed. 1 Kings 12:3-5.
King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” Then they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him. So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ But you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” 1 Kings 12:6-11.
Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 1 Kings 12:12-14. And that is how the kingdom divided. And from that time until the conquest of the northern kingdom by Assyria, Israel was in rebellion against the house of David. Rehoboam’s harshness ruined a nation and lost him the love and loyalty of the people. And the people rebelled against Me as well and turned to idols. A harsh ruler can turn people from Me as well.
But Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, was gentle and still is to you His flock. When He was harshly treated, He did not retaliate nor call upon the angelic host to defeat those who mistreated Him. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep led to the shearers, He opened not His mouth. To all the accusations the priests and elders made against Jesus, He did not contend with them or answer back, to Pilate’s amazement. He steadfastly set His face like flint and let them strike Him, spit on Him, and shame Him so that you would be able to live without shame or blame.
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore your sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. for you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25. And no one who comes to Him will He ever reject and cast away. Gentleness is open to another’s repentance.
Gentleness is a magnet drawing others into its embrace. Harshness is a wall that holds others at a distance. Do not fence yourself in so that others cannot come into your shade. Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is Jesus among the sons of men. In His shade you will find great delight and His fruit will be sweet to your taste. Song of Songs 2:3. The fruit of the Spirit.
You grow the fruit of gentleness only in humility of heart. A proud heart is a hard heart.
I have given me the shield of your salvation, and My right hand upholds you; and My gentleness makes you great. I enlarge your steps under you, and your feet will not slip. Psalm 18:35-36. Gentleness steps aside to make another great. Like Jesus did.
I love you. You know just from a person’s demeanor, tone of voice, and attitude whether or not they are gentle and humble of heart. And with a person filled with gentleness you can find rest and peace.