December 3

Philippians 4:5 (NIV84) — 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

As I read that this morning I stopped and my heart went uggghhh. I say that because I am not so sure that my gentleness is so evident to anybody! So with that I searched to learn what gentleness was exactly. There is, within my mind, a definition that I don’t like, it just isn’t too appealing for a manly man like I think I am. (That cries too much). So I found out that the word properly means being gracious and forbearing, not insisting of every right. Further Kittle writes : “epieíkeia (gentleness) is thus a complement of heavenly majesty. The weak want to assert their dignity; Christ, having divine authority, shows saving clemency (a disposition of mercy). The community shares his glory and should thus display the same epieíkeia”. So rather than some mamby pamby gooeyness, gentleness is properly showing mercy and grace to people and not insisting for them to attain every ideal of behavior. If I am weak in gentleness, I assert my dignity over others, but if I walk in divine authority, it is easy to give others this gentleness. I can do that!

God, help me to disassociate myself, my thoughts, my dignity from the actions of others and to show them this gentleness that you have so often shown to me.