Daily Devotion

Gentleness

By: Marissa Wolf

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

Gentleness is known as a fruit of the Spirit in the Bible. As Christians, we are called to walk in the Spirit and that means putting on gentleness. (See: Galatians 5:16-18). Gentleness is moral goodness, kindness, benignity, and kindness. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit that we as Christians should be known by. It is important that we clothe ourselves with gentleness. Gentleness is a good fruit. A good tree bears good fruit but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Don’t be a bad tree! (See: Matthew 7:16-20). Gentleness is just one of the many fruits of the Spirit that we are called to put on. 

There are many ways we as Christians can walk in gentleness such as:

  • When we respond with a soft answer (See: Proverbs 15:1)

  • To speak evil of no man, but to instead showing all meekness unto all men (See: Titus 3:2)

  • Choosing to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath (See: James 1:19-20)

  • Sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts and being ready to always be giving an answer to every man that continually asks us a reason of hope that is in us with meekness and fear (See: 1 Peter 3:15)

There are many other examples of gentleness in the Bible, just take a look at the life of Jesus and how many times He walked in gentleness for instance! Wisdom from above is gentle. God’s wisdom is also first pure, then peaceable, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits. God’s wisdom is without partiality and hypocrisy. (See: James 3:17). We are not to chase after worldly wisdom, but to seek God’s wisdom. Worldly wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish. (See: James 3:15). When we choose worldly wisdom, we are not walking in the Spirit. Worldly wisdom may be dangerous as it can lead us to desire worldly wisdom over God’s wisdom, but doing so is a sin. We are to not exalt anything at the same level as God or higher than Him. If we do this, this is idolatry, we must bring it to the Lord and repent of this. (See: Leviticus 26:1, Exodus 20:3-5, Galatians 5:19-21, and Acts 3:19). We are called to trust in the Lord with our whole heart at all times and to not be wise in our own eyes and to lean on our own understanding. (See: Proverbs 3:5-7 and Psalm 62:8).

When we’re having a rough day or someone gets on our nerves, do we walk in gentleness or do we choose to let our emotions get the better of us? We must remember that God made everyone in His image. (See: Genesis 1:27). It can be all too easy to look at someone’s flaws and assume the worst, but God calls us to be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all men. For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures. (See: Titus 3:1-8). The Bible calls us to, if it is possible and as much as depends on us, live peaceably with all men. We are also called to consider one another and give preference to one another over ourselves. (See: Romans 12:18, Hebrews 10:24 and Romans 12:10-13). It is important that in all things we are led by the Spirit of God, not by our heart, feelings, or emotions. As our hearts are desperately wicked and can lead us astray. (See: Jeremiah 17:9-10). If we find ourselves being led by our heart, feelings, and emotions we must continually put off these things unto the Lord, repent and resist the devil. (See: James 4:7-10). For as many that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (See: Romans 8:14). Gentleness, along with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control are the fruits of the Spirit that we should be seeking to display in our lives on a daily basis! Ask the Lord to fill your life with the fruits of His Spirit today! 

Are you genuinely putting on gentleness? Do you chase after worldly wisdom more than you seek God’s wisdom? Do you exalt anything at the same level as or higher than God that you need cast to Him and to repent of? Do you give consideration to others? Are you led by the Spirit of God?

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Colossians 3:12