The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

The Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Dictionaries list many synonyms for “gentleness”.  The synonym that touched my heart at this time is “courteous.”  We live in such a discourteous world that even Christians often display a lack of gentleness.  “Please” and “thank you” are no longer commonly used phrases.  I can’t remember the last time a newly married couple sent us a “thank you” note for a gift received.  Some people are hesitant to come to church for fear that they might sit in someone else’s pew. Too many Christians separate themselves from other Christians over ways of worship that have nothing to do with salvation. 

The word of God directs us: “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” (Titus 3:1-2 NKJV)   That is gentleness.

 

 We often sing “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild”.  What a wonderful message penned by Charles Wesley.  One verse reads:

“Lamb of God, I look to Thee;
Thou shalt my Example be;
Thou art gentle, meek, and mild;
Thou wast once a little child.”

 

Jesus is gentle, meek and mild.  Jesus is courteous. He describes Himself in Matthew 11: 28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (NKJV)

Jesus ate with hated tax collectors.  He forgave a woman caught in adultery.  During the Passover dinner before His crucifixion, He knelt before Peter and washed his feet even though He knew that Peter would deny Him.  That same evening, He also knelt before Judas and washed his feet even though He knew that Judas would betray Him.  Knowing that I am unworthy, He went to the cross to pay the price for my sin. That is courtesy—putting others before Himself. 

Jesus called the sinners unto Himself and rebuked the actions of the Pharisees, the self-righteous, condemning hypocritical religious leaders.  Yet, when one of them, Nicodemus, came to Him under the cover of darkness, Jesus received him and taught him. The last time Nicodemus is mentioned in the Bible, he is helping Joseph of Arimathea to prepare the body of Jesus for burial.

From the depths of prison Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus:  “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Graham Cooke writes: "There is no law, circumstance or power that can successfully work against the fruit of the Spirit. In it we are empowered to overcome the enemy. Relationships are renewed. Our emotions become stable and powerful. We change the atmosphere, upgrade the climate of faith and become empowered by the Presence of God.”

We must remember that, as Christians, the Holy Spirit of God indwells us. Because of that indwelling, the fruit of the Spirit is already present in our lives.  It is important for us to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and to empower us to manifest that fruit.

Gentleness, courtesy, is a fruit of the Spirit.