Do you have the Fruit of the Spirit? Are you gentle? Looking at the Greek words for this, it also includes meekness and humility. This is not a weakness as some believe, but a strength. It’s easy to seek your own desires, but God wants us to put others’ needs before our own. How often do we do that?
Philippians 2:1-11
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As a believer, let us follow the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who humbled Himself and gave of Himself for others. That is part of what gentleness means to me. It is putting others before yourself. It is helping those in need with the abundance and excess given to us. It is being kind and tenderhearted to those around us. It is using our words to lift others up and not tearing them down.
James 3:8-10
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
James 1:19-20
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Wherever we may be, as we speak with others, as we post or comment on Facebook, let us remember the words of James and think before we speak. Ask yourself these two questions: Does what I am about to say glorify God? Will it uplift the person we are talking to or about? For anything we do or say we should think about whether or not that would please God, considering all He has done for us.
Psalms 51:15-17
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.
Jesus is concerned with our hearts. We do not do good deeds to gain favor with God, but because we love Him and because as believers, we were given the Holy Spirit in us. The evidence of our salvation is what our desires are and doing what we know would please God – that is the Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
As we mentioned, part of the fruit is gentleness, which can also mean meekness or humility. This is what gives God pleasure. This is what will give us peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
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 longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Paul’s letters encourages the church to live a life being full of the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us to treat each other in a spirit of gentleness and love. In so doing, others will see that we are children of God and we can have joy in that.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
As we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we can become more like Jesus, following His example. We know we can come to Him with all of our burdens, because He is gentle and because He already took the biggest burden of all on His shoulders, our sin.
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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
As Jesus is the light, let us be His light to others. Our words and our actions should reflect His. He gave us a great gift. Let us share that with others. May others see the great God that He is by our testimony.
1 Timothy 6:11-16
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
My Daily Scriptures 