Thought For The Week

Of the nine attributes known as the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatian 5:22-23, the fruit of gentleness seems to have been lost among well-meaning Christians, especially those who do our teaching or preaching. With raised voices and condescending tones, they shake the bible at us with ultimatums of “turn or burn”! But as experience has shown us, the fire and brimstone approach of the past will only convict a limited few. Could the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey” be applicable to sharing the gospel and its principles?

Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ” (Matt. 5:5) Did Jesus mean that those who share the good news with a spirit of gentleness would be more successful? In His invitation for all to come to Him in Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “I am gentle. ” We can see the gentleness of Jesus when He told the adulterous woman of Mark 8 to “go and sin no more. ” Even though the church at Corinth had serious sin issues, Paul asked, “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Cor. 4:21) In his 2nd letter to the church, Paul pleaded with them by the “meekness and gentleness of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:1) The trait of gentleness is to be included in the elder’s and the minister’s character (1 Tim. 3:3; 6:11) including their approach to teaching. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient… ” (2 Tim. 2:24)

Christians are reminded to “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. ” (Titus 3:2) As we share the Good News of Jesus, let us seek the “wisdom that is from above which is first pure, then peaceable and gentle. ” (James 3:17)

Jay Launius – 2024, Maud church of Christ, Maud, Texas