Gentleness is an attribute of the fruit of the spirit. We, as followers of Jesus, should show gentleness towards others. Not repaying evil with evil or a harsh word with a harsh word, but we grow in the spirit when we bless regardless of what comes against us. Peter had a different way of thinking before Pentecost. He thought for himself when Jesus mentioned His arrest, death, and resurrection. “Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” After Pentecost, He was thinking of others. “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Living for Jesus is not living for yourself. The first prerequisite to following Jesus is to deny yourself. Being about others and not yourself is very liberating. The enemy will always come against you to make it about you. Defeating him is easy, but it’s difficult to do. Getting over yourself can be difficult. You have trained your whole life to think for yourself. Look at the career path you are on. The home you live in. The car you drive. The clothes you wear. This world has been set up so you can think for yourself. Have you ever made it better for others rather than yourself? Paul told the Philippians, “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.” If we can learn to make it about others, God can work through us. By blessing others, my Father will leave a blessing behind for you. “Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him.” When living for Jesus all of heaven is attracted to Christ in you. Jesus even said, ”Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
I hope that your gentleness will continue to grow and grow. You being gentle will make a difference for others to see Christ in you or not. Be blessed, my friends.
