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Gentleness

Graciousness

by TerryLema

I was reading the closing chapter in that marvelous letter written to the Philippians. Many verses in that chapter are familiar and I hear them quoted often as words to live by.

Two examples are Vs 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” and Vs 6: “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” [HCSB]

As I read that paragraph, I realized there is a verse between those two—one that I do not see quoted as often.  Vs 5: “Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” [HCSB]

Some translations render the word “graciousness” as “gentleness.”  It is “epieikés” and it means gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate.

We live in a difficult time and amid a harsh society. Everything and everyone are dissected in the media and on social media. The national news I watch spends 29 of its 30 minutes on what is bad, and 1 minute on something good. I don’t think the ratio is really that one-sided, but good news doesn’t sell.

Social media is also often cruel. It is so easy to be snarky (something I can be guilty of at times), and so easy to even be nasty and vicious. We look for the worst and delight when we find it. Then we broadcast it to others.

As Christians, we are commanded to be gracious and gentle to others. The command carries no caveat. It does not matter the behavior of “others,” everyone is to be a recipient of our graciousness and gentleness. The reason: “The LORD is near.”

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Wisdom’s Gentleness

by TerryLema

Wisdom for spiritual maturity and growth is given to us through the Spirit of Truth who indwells all those who have surrendered their lives to God by faith in Christ Jesus. Still there are times when we need to acknowledge that we are lacking in spiritual wisdom, and James 1:5 reminds us that we can go directly to God and ask for it – and He will grant it without criticizing (or even reminding us how we may not have used the wisdom He granted before!).

James will dive a bit deeper into wisdom in Chapter 3. He begins that section of his letter by talking about how difficult it is to control the tongue. He ends that section talking about the wisdom that is from above.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” [vs 13 NKJV]

I love how this wisdom, described in the NKJV as “meekness of wisdom” is described in the HCSB.  “Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.”

“Wisdom’s gentleness!” The word is prautés and it means just that – gentleness. It is derived from the root “pra-“ that emphasizes the divine origin of this meekness or gentle strength. It expresses power with reserve and gentleness.

Our good conduct, our behavior exhibited to those around us must contain wisdom’s gentleness. It is never to be arrogant or divisive. It never puts others down, but instead is designed to show truth with compassion and kindness that lifts others up.

May we always have and demonstrate wisdom’s gentleness in our daily walk with God. Amen

 

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Clothe Yourself

by TerryLema

The other day I reminded us about who we are. Peter gave such a beautiful description of us in his first letter. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.” [2:9]

With all those marvelous privileges come heavy responsibilities. Paul is always good about reminding us of our responsibilities to God and to others. He wastes no times in Colossians 3. After reminding us we are a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone, he tells how that should look in our daily walk.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” [v12]

When I read how Paul described our “garments” – what we are to be “clothed with” – I recall the coat that Jacob made for his son, Joseph. It is described as a “coat of many colors” in Genesis 37. Jacob gave Joseph that beautiful precious coat because he loved his son.

Paul tells us that as God’s chosen people, we are also “dearly loved” by our Father. As such, we are to wear a beautiful spiritual coat that reflects the love we have received from Him. This coat is colored with compassions, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

When we adorn ourselves with our coat of many colors and walk our Christian walk in this world, we bless others. We reflect how much the love of our Father has changed us. We are not cruel as many are, but gentle and kind. We are not angry but filled with patience. We are not arrogant, but humble. We walk with quiet strength amid all circumstances.

There are no exceptions contained in our responsibilities, no matter the difficulties that surround us. We do not stop being clothed with our spiritual coat of many colors just because of a fear-and-virus pandemic. If anything, our spiritual coat should be on even greater display.

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