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. Its hard to extend grace when someone has offended us. It Yields good fruits in the gentleness of christ by a gentle spirit and a gentle answer. Gentleness can also be a sign of strength, not weakness. However, God calls us to a higher standard. We learn to make their aims our aims. Gentleness isnt weakness; its not passive or submissive either. Required fields are marked *. Gentleness comes from a state of humility. This is because gentleness doesn't come very naturally to me. The Bridge Bible Fellowship. That whole book was completely opposite of what we're going to talk about this morning, which is having a gentleness about our life. You can prevent inciting anger by choosing to respond with gentleness. In fact, it mentions it in several places. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. We are to stand out from the crowd by being different. Here is a sample of their uses. When someone considers someone to have the quality of epiekes, they would say that this is a pleasurable person to be around. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. Gentleness is the quality of being kind, considerate, and mild. Practice patience and kindness in your everyday interactions with others. As Paul said, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ) We never know when our kindness will lead someone into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. of the flesh" "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. The Oxford Dictionary defines gentleness as, "the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered." Kindness is literally a part of gentleness; the two are intertwined, and therefore when one is portrayed, so is the other. Meaghan is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a gentle Christian parenting coach. . It looks like Jesus: kind and compassionate to those who are struggling, yet firm and clear-eyed when addressing sin; slow to anger and quick to forgive; always calm and collected even in the midst of chaos; patient with His disciples when they were constantly asking questions and getting things wrong; gentle with sinners but uncompromising on truth. In fact, it was his gentleness that allowed him to touch the hearts of so many people and change their lives forever. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. ( Matt. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "I'll believe it when I see it.". 2 Corinthians 10:1 uses the meekness and gentleness (kindness) of Christ as an example for his own pattern. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? A gentle touch or kind word can go a long way in building trust and rapport, fostering cooperation and obedience. But it is also important to remember that he was a man who was deeply compassionate and full of mercy. When we are patient and kind with those who are hurting, we offer them a glimpse of the hope and healing that is found in Jesus. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). You can be gentle in him thanks for sharing and encouraging . But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). When we are gentle with our children, we send the message that they are safe and loved. Gentleness is getting something done. Meekness however may be distinguished from gentleness in that meekness is the way one regards oneself, and is therefore described in the Scriptures as 'lowliness of mind.' (e.g. We grow in gentleness by surrounding ourselves with gentle people. What does it look like to be gentle? Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? Therefore, someone who lacks gentleness is often prideful and easily angered, or feels the need for revenge. 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). The Bible does more than answer this question, so lets learn about gentleness in the Bible, Gentleness Definition In The Bible, definition of gentleness in the bible kjv and examples of gentleness in the bible what implications this has for our lives today. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. They are finding things that have been overlooked for years. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is peace? Thank you for this devotion that I will pin, and print and place in my Gentleness devotional. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. That is the biblical picture of gentleness. But gentleness is also opposed to lazy apathy and insensitivity. There is one main Greek word translated gentlenessprauetes. But what does it mean to be gentle? Be subject to and obey God's word. The apostle Paul wrote, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. This is what we are called to do as Christs disciples! Harshness, meanness, or malice. When you treat others gently you gain trust and respect. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Heres everything you need to know about this virtue and how you can use it in your life! 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. From these examples of gentleness in the bible, we can picture a soft touch, calm reassurance, and a loving hand. 13:5) That means we need to recognize when our anger has run out of control and learn how to stop it before it gets out of hand. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. And they bring the gospel of peace with gentleness and love, not harshness. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ab522d57b5eb8560ccf33254c1125cdc" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Instead, gentleness is a strength that comes from God. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. GENTLENESS. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. It is the opposite of harshness and violence. It is a positive trait that can help you improve your relationships with others and even yourself. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. In this blog post, we will explore a few examples of gentleness from the Bible. Gentleness is when the stronger restrain their strength for the sake of the weaker. Some people would say that peace is the opposite of war, when there is no fighting or violence. It can also mean mildness and softness. And does it accomplish things? synonyms 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Here are some steps you can take to learn how to be more gentle with others: 1. You can dramatize the king's voice, especially on the repetition of the young men's council. 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. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. Of all the character traits which could have been part of the fruit of the Spirit, why is gentleness in that list? I hope you enjoy and come back often. The opposite of gentleness is anger, a desire for revenge, and self-importance. Bible Verses About Protecting The Environment, Bible Verses About Protecting The Innocent, Bible Verses About Protecting The Vulnerable, Bible Verses About Pretending To Be Someone Else, Bible Verses About Proclaiming The Word Of God, Bible Verses About Praying For Lost Souls, Bible Verses About Premarital Relationships, Bible Verses About Practicing What You Preach, Bible Verses About Praising God In Hard Times, Bible Verses About Praising God With Music, Bible Verses About Poverty And Homelessness, Bible Verses About Power In The Name Of Jesus, Bible Verses About Practice Makes Perfect, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days KJV, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days, Bible Verses About Physical Pain And Healing. The Greek word describes someone who has power but chooses not to use it harshly or selfishly. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is love? The good news is that Gentleness can be learned. For starters, Gentleness is the opposite of anger. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.. Salem Media Group. Beginning and End God has neither beginning nor end. These verses can be applied to any relationship or interaction with have with others. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Your email address will not be published. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. 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). This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. And these are the people whom I admire the most. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. But the more I study, the more I find that gentleness is one of the chief Christian virtues. A gentle heart comes from having love for others. Prautes is also used to translate a different Hebrew word that is often translated the poor. This is the case in Job 24:4, Isaiah 26:6, Zechariah 9:9, and Zephaniah 3:12. I am not affectionate, and I fail to give loving hugs. God is gentle with us, and we are called to be gentle with others. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. The Old Testament. The Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek NT defines it this way: Prautes denotes the humble and gentle attitude which expresses itself, in particular, in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice and desire for revenge controlled strength, the ability to bear reproaches and slights without bitterness and resentment; the ability to provide a soothing influence on someone who is in a state of anger, bitterness and resentment against life the word indicates an obedient submissiveness to God and His will, with unwavering faith and enduring patience displaying itself in a gentle attitude and kind acts toward others, and this often in the face of opposition.. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. When we receive a . 11 Points: How Did Aaron Die in the Bible? But the opposite is true. Gentleness is feeling this way about other human beings. Some view being gentle as weak. Gentleness is a soft answer, even when the words might hurt the recipient (Galatians 6:1). It is important to have an accurate perception of what gentleness is. Just like how Jesus was gentle with the woman in this story, God is gentle with us. In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. Jesus was gentle, even when He was being crucified. Yield, surrender, and submit your will to the will of God. We never know when our gentleness will lead someone to Christ. In most of these instances it is used to indicate the one who will be taught by the LORD, is lifted up by the LORD, who will be adorned with salvation and saved. The word was also used to describe the meekness of Moses in Numbers 12:3, and in Psalm 36:11 it is the meek who will inherit the earth. and with a gentleness or meekness in his life. It's a way of life. The supreme exemplar of gentleness is Israel's God. I know some people who have a lot of gentleness. His consolations are spoken gently ( Job 15:11 ). All rights reserved. Gentleness has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of time. 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. Gentleness in our day of polarization and heated rhetoric might go a long way in helping people to see the beauty of Jesus. Our natural response is anger and retaliation. Furthermore, when we are gentle with our children, we help them to develop into well-rounded individuals who are able to navigate the challenges of life with grace and strength. Galatians 2:20. Christ himself was a model of gentleness, and he calls us to follow his example. 1. Listen more than you speak or act (James 1:19). Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. When correcting opponents, it should be done with gentleness. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the LXX, the word prautes appears 12 times, and 11 times in the New Testament. 7. Part I: Meekness and Humility Toward God In the Bible, meekness is primarily emphasized as submissiveness toward God (rather than toward men). When we develop lazy attitudes in some areas, that laziness tends to spread to other areas as well. But more specifically we grow in gentleness by practicing it. Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. The less common word, epieikes,is used in Pauls pastoral letters, as well as in James and 1 Peter. When a Christian leader falls, it is almost always due to a lack of self-control and personal discipline. The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. W. Barclay, New Testament Words, pp. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. This is similar to how Peter uses the word (1 Peter 3:16). The apostle Paul wrote, And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) leading men to Christ is not always easy. Check Out Amazon Educational Resources on The Spirit of Gentleness. One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is gentleness. To be gentle means showing love and care for others in how you act and speak. So when the Messiah came at last, many assumed he was going to be a cultural and political Savior,. Your email address will not be published. Gentleness is powerful because it is godly. When we think of the life of Jesus, we often think of his miracles and his teachings. God provides many examples of gentleness in the bible, Jesus himself being the best model. . In Galatians it is a mark of being led by the Spirit and it is shown as an example of walking in step with the Spirit in Galatians 6:1. By practicing gentleness, we show others the love and kindness of God. To have gentleness is to have a gentle spirit or nature about you. What Does the Bible say about Vegetarianism vs Meat eating | Eat Meat in the Bible, 9 Examples of Gentleness in the Bible | Gentle, The Fruit of Gentleness in the New Testament, The Power of Gentleness in Leading men To Christ, The Power of Gentleness with our Children, Final Thoughts Examples of Gentleness in the Bible, 140622eng-gotfruitseriespart5-gentlenessbyjocelyntan-140622233213-phpapp01, Use Google Church Grant For Your Church $10,000 / Month - God Bless Steve, Stuck on Sermon / Need Class Ideas / Outlines / Ask Ja, Copyright 1920-2023 Jesus Leadership Training. Why is it important for us to follow Gods example of gentleness? Wives should seek "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" ( 1 Peter 3:4 ). The opposite of peace is not war, it's fear. Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. Gentleness is a requisite for a servant of God, particularly one in a responsible position of oversight. It is the opposite of being harsh with others. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Even in our sin, He continues to love us. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. But why is gentleness such an important virtue? In our increasingly polarized society, Christians are also succumbing to the idea that what we really need is brute strength to get things done. 4.) He was a rough man by trade, but when it came to leading men to Christ, he employed great gentleness. Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. Just as with the humble we see that God is working to defend and rescue the poor. The word can also be used to translate another Hebrew word that refers to things like enduring hardship (Psalm 132:1), toil and trouble (Psalm 89:10). Gentleness, also translated "meekness," does not mean weakness. In doing so we will win over those who hear us. People will see Jesus in us when we are gentle. Gentleness is not a natural human trait it requires humility and self-control, two things that only come from God. Yet, he is gentle with us. Through prayer, we can ask God to give us a spirit of gentleness and take away any feelings of self-righteousness. It should not be seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you, if you choose to purchase through one of the links on this page. By showing gentleness towards others, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and set an example for others to follow. . Note that the Catholic church includes a few additional fruits as part of tradition, listing 12: And it is to those who are gentle and meek who will inherit the earththe gentle are the ones who receive Gods rescue. It's the opposite of anger and harshness. Show empathy. Evil has a beginning and its end will be everlasting. To me, its important to raise my children with gentleness and tenderness. I'm Christina, a mom of three who is passionate about helping Christian parents and caregivers tend to their children with the full character of Jesus, including his gentleness. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. It is described as a quiet spirit, will not harm a bruised reed the shield of your salvation. Consider Galatians 5:23 which says that gentleness is part of the fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit within us. Gentleness on the other hand, deals with the way that one regards others. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. Unfortunately, sometimes in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we can become more focused on getting things done than on being kind to the ones we love. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Let believers clothe themselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" ( Col 3:12 ). He was talking about people who have mastered themselves their appetites, their passions, and their pride so that they can act with wisdom and self-control instead of being controlled by their emotions. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. Not only does it mean being kind to people who are kind to you, but also it means being kind even when someone isnt nice back! In the Bible, gentleness is a virtue that many people are encouraged to develop. It requires great strength and self-control. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each aspect of this fruit is characteristic of Christ Jesus. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Fashion designer Coco Chanel once remarked, gentleness doesnt get work done unless you happen to be a hen laying eggs., Sadly, this dismissal of gentleness is not reserved for the world.
Everstart Maxx 4a Battery Charger Manual,
Alexa Sings Thanks For Your Feedback,
Articles O
opposite of gentleness in the bible