Gentleness is perhaps the most misunderstood Fruit of the Spirit. As we explore the fruits this summer, let me set out three identities of gentleness.
First, gentleness is persistent. How did God carve the Grand Canyon? Human builders used dynamite as an essential carving tool at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument. But God created a more beautiful monument using wind, water, and time. This gentle, persistent approach took eons.
It's in God's character to be persistently gentle. When Elijah ran away after shaming the prophets of Baal, he prayed for death in the desert. But an angel of the Lord kept providing food and water to him. Elijah ran farther away to hide in a cave. The Lord woke him to ask "What are you doing here, Elijah?" After having Elijah experience a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a wildfire, the Lord asked again in a gentle whisper, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God's gentle persistence finally brought Elijah to accountability instead of fear.
Second, gentleness is encouraging. Instead of acting with authority, the Apostle Paul took the gentle, encouraging approach when dealing with the church at Thessalonica, as we read in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8,11-12.
We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. . .For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Third, gentleness can be balanced with firmness. Jesus was the model for this balance of firmness and gentleness. For the most part, Jesus's approach came across as gentle, but our Savior was certainly capable of being firm as well.
An example of the balance between gentleness and firmness comes from the reconciliation of the 20th century civil war in Mozambique. For fifteen years, no one could stop the fighting - not the United Nations, not the Vatican. Finally, the Community of Sant’Egidio, an Italian lay Christian group, intervened and fostered peaceful negotiations. Andrea Riccardi, one of the founders of the Community of Sant’Egidio, described the "weak strength" of the Gospel as being instrumental for peace.
Weak strength. That is what the Holy Spirit teaches us as we learn gentleness. Let us be inspired by the Spirit and go forward with a gentleness that is persistent, encouraging, and balanced with firmness.
LOVE CONNECTION: Could a loving relationship use gentle persistence, gentle encouragement, and a balance of gentleness and firmness? Clearly. However, it's disappointing to report how seldom gentleness might be used in a loving relationship. Often we seem to be the most discourteous and disdainful toward those who are closest to us. Is that truly love? It's love that needs gentleness mixed in.
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