Gentleness. Gentleness, also translated "meekness," does not mean weakness. We should also work at controlling our tempers with grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness, love and respect for others. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Throughout history, there have been many gentle people who have made a difference in the world. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Actually, gentleness requires quite a bit of strength and self-control. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Its helpful to think about the areas where we are tempted to respond with harshness instead of gentleness. We may picture someone who is easily intimidated or who shrinks back from conflict. This is shown in our thoughts and in the way we interact with those around us. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Gentleness, Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Gentleness. These great examples of gentleness help us to see practically what that looks like in everyday life. It can also mean mildness and softness. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). Colossians 3:20 (esv). 3. Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. These individuals were known for their kindness, care, and compassion for others. One definition comes from Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness. Another translation says, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering. The word for gentleness here means strength under control or power working itself out in love. There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. hardness docility, intentional mildness roughness docility, intentional mildness abruptness steepness harshness imperviousness docility, intentional mildness precipitousness brutality unkindness Filters Most terms are nouns Suggest Gentleness isnt weakness; its not passive or submissive either. While many view meekness as a weakness, it is actually strength under control. Consider Galatians 5:23 which says that gentleness is part of the fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit within us. There is peace in our homes when nobody is arguing or fighting. What does it look like to be gentle? You and those around you reap many benefits by prioritizing gentleness. The Spirit-Filled Life: Discovering the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit by Charles Stanley. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). He is gentle with you. All Rights Reserved. 11:29 NIV). We are to exercise our spiritual strength in love. He is the Creator of the universe, yet He is still gentle and loving toward us despite our sinful nature. We Must Recognize Our Sinfulness and Our Dependence On God. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is self-control. Other faithful followers found this to be true (Job 29:22, 2 Timothy 2:25). Gentleness can also be a sign of strength, not weakness. It's the opposite of anger and harshness. A meek spirit, a gentle spirit, a quiet spirit. Im too self-centered to stop and kiss my childs scraped knee. The biblical concept of gentleness is based on the idea that humans are made in the image of God and are therefore to be treated with dignity and respect. We like to think that if Jesus were on earth today, hed be carrying around a whip. He was a rough man by trade, but when it came to leading men to Christ, he employed great gentleness. Galatians 5:23 says, against such there is no law.. . People who are gentle usually have a lot of inner peace and self-control. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a298435548fac6131ddbee45a6669aa4" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its the opposite of anger and harshness. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. That is the biblical picture of gentleness. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. Its the opposite of anger and harshness. And it starts with being humble before God acknowledging that we need His help to change and grow and allowing Him to work through us by His Spirit to make us more like His Son. Gentle Christian Parenting is a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other sites at no extra cost to you. We who have the mind of Christ ought to also have at our core a gentleness of spirit. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children."1 Thessalonians 2:7 What is the opposite of gentleness? Gentleness is the quality of being kind and considerate. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. And he is calling upon us to exude that same characteristic in our interaction with others. gentle parenting bible study discussion guides, The Responsibilities of a Parent in the Bible, Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard A Biblical Perspective, Remember God Is In Control And He Cares About You, Gratitude In The Bible Key Verses and How To Apply Them, What It Means to Be a Good Steward in the Bible with Examples, 27 Bible Verses On Identity in Christ for Powerful Living, The Mystery of Mothers Intuition Revealed In The Bible. Gentleness is a requisite for a servant of God, particularly one in a responsible position of oversight. Ill be blunt and say that one of the best things you can do to grow in a spirit of gentleness would be to turn off the 24-hour news stations and talk radio. This is the spirit of gentleness that we are called to as followers of Christ. We need His help to be gentle! Meaghan is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a gentle Christian parenting coach. Galatians 5:23 says, against such there is no law.. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. Now, it's not to say that, if things are not peaceful, then war won't exist. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, take a moment to ask God for his gentleness, and then extend that same grace to those around you. Christlikeness begins with a willingness to forgive and move forward. Violence, aggression, abuse, or brutality. 5 Steps to Achieving the Fruit of Gentleness (or Meekness) that Leads to Blessedness. Your email address will not be published. We should be kind and merciful to others even when they mistreat us or do wrong things to us (Luke 6:35; Romans 12:18-19; 1 Peter 3:8). One definition comes from Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness. Another translation says, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering. The word for gentleness here means strength under control or power working itself out in love. Gentle occurs in the Old Testament only in the Revised Version (British and American) of Jeremiah 11:19, "I was like a gentle lamb" (kebhes). Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Gentleness is more than just being nice and kind and caring towards others; its actually the quality of God Himself who has been poured out into our hearts by His Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:5). The Bible says that gentleness is "not soon angry." (1 Cor. Gentleness in our day of polarization and heated rhetoric might go a long way in helping people to see the beauty of Jesus. The New Testament. Pray for God to help you forgive those who have hurt you. And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). So he drew his sword and was about to kill himself (Acts 16:27) But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. (Acts 16:28) And he called for lights and rushed in and fell down before Paul and Silas (Acts 16:29-30a) Then he took them both out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30b). Your email address will not be published. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young" ( Isa 40:11 ). This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Gentleness has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of time. brutality. By showing gentleness to our spouses, we are not only making them feel loved and appreciated, but we are also setting a tone of respect and consideration that will spill over into other areas of our lives. The opposite of gentleness is: Rudeness, manipulation, or disrespect. That is having peace with others. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. The Bible says that Moses was a meek man; in fact, God's word in Numbers 12:3 says . About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25) Then, Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the jail were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyones chains were unfastened. (Acts 16:26) The jailer woke up, and saw that the prison doors were open. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Galatians 5:22-23. 5:22). Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. In Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians the word is used in lists combined with things like humility as virtues and graces. Required fields are marked *. So lets all make a conscious effort to show a little more gentleness to our spouses today it just might make their day and ours! Teddy Roosevelt said he thought it wise to speak softly and carry a big stick. Gentleness for many is synonymous with being quiet spoken, a pushover, and weak. Developing Christian Gentleness is a sermon from Galatians 5:22-23 about the six ways that the Holy Spirit helps a Christian learn to be gentle. Jesus was gentle, even when He was being crucified. Its a quality of character. What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? When we attempt to restore someone caught in sin, we are to do it in a spirit of gentleness. In 2 Timothy and in Titus, gentleness is to mark the Christian leader. A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. Posted on Monday, May 17, 2021 by K-LOVE Pastors. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. Instead, let us show compassion on those around us by being gentle towards themespecially those who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Another pair of opposites in the Bible is innocence and guilt. Against such things there is no law. They are believed to have been as close as anyone possible. Let's think of when Jesus portrayed kindness and gentleness. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. People have been searching for this treasure for hundred of years. The Bible is full of examples of gentleness. Gentleness is an important quality for Christians to develop if they want to be effective in spreading Gods Word and helping others come closer to Christ. James contrasts gentleness with filthiness and rampant wickedness. It is the mark of being one of wisdom. He healed the sick, preached to the masses, and showed compassion to everyone he met. Resentfulness and divisiveness. Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. This is what made him different from all other religious leaders of his time and it is one of the things that continues to make him loved and admired by so many people today.

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