‘Lowliness And Gentleness’

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing on another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Christlikeness does not come naturally to any of us.  The two qualities mentioned in our text are characteristic of Christ.  He exhibited these qualities in all of His connections.  Even when He encountered vicious opposition, He was both humble and gentle in His actions and reactions.  Paul is tutoring his Ephesian children in becoming like Christ.  He has laid the groundwork for the practical applications he now sets forth.  It is vitally important for us to understand every practical application of Scripture with all of its’ imperatives in relation to Christ.  If we do not draw those connections, we will very rapidly descend into a performance-based, works righteousness which will pervade our behavior and necessitate an image management which will deprive us of genuineness and honesty.  The ‘lowliness and gentleness’ which Christ exhibited is something we desire as those whom God has brought from death to life.  They will only become practical realities as we continually look to Christ and experience the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to enable us to ‘live unto righteousness.’  So today let us look again to Christ in order that our contemplation of Him may bring us to the imitation of Him.

Our Wise and Gracious Savior,
we rejoice at the example that You have set before us
of humility and gentleness.
We praise You that You will evermore lead us by Your Spirit,
to exhibit these qualities as You work them in us.