Gentleness!
‘Let your gentleness be known to all men?’ (Philippians 4:5)
The word ‘gentleness’ is archaic in this barbaric world! Take a look around and you will find aggressiveness, rebelliousness and boisterousness being hailed in reality shows and TV soaps, be it, western or Indian TV dramas, I find the characters being very loud and noisy. Defending toe to toe seems to be the way of life; patience, kindness, gentleness seems to be passé! Children/adults later ape them. Watch out!
The Bible says: ‘Let your gentleness be known to all!’ Man, that’s a powerful statement! If there is a misunderstanding, don’t scream and yell to argue your point, neither should you prove your skills by having to say the last word on the matter. Learn to say nothing. I repeat, learn to stay silent, when the furnace is seven times heated. That’s the mark of a true Christian!
Before we take the guitar to worship or usurp the pulpit to preach, we got to analyze/check our life with the Word of God. Worship/ our preaching, however passionate it may be, cannot touch nor reach the people if there is inconsistency and discrepancy in the way we live and the way we preach. We are the message to begin with! Anybody listening? An urge to be involved in ministry and work for the Lord’s Kingdom among young people today is certainly commendable; however, we have great responsibility to keep ourselves in ‘order’ first. What we are from Monday to Saturday is more important than what we are on Sunday morning. Our behavior in our living room back at home would hamper the move of God on Sunday morning! Beware!
I appreciate your flawless attendance to church, your diligent reading of the Word, fasting and everything; my question today - is your gentleness clearly seen by all?
• How would you react if your tailor goofs up on your dress?
• How would you react if your regular, favorite seat is taken over by someone at the church?
• How would you react if you are ignored but your junior is recognized and cheered?
• How would you react if someone yells at you for no reason?
It is a very good personal evaluative tool to find out if we are projecting Jesus in and through your life! Is your gentleness evident to all as we are commanded in the Bible: ‘Let your gentleness be known to all men?’ (Philippians 4:5) We should adorn the beauty of God with our life and words!
