Gentleness

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Philippians 4:5 

Christ was gentle. As the word appears in our text it carries the idea of longsuffering, forbearing, tolerant and considerate. We sometimes find it rendered, ‘sweet reasonableness.’ This is not a natural quality, but it is a Christlike quality. If Paul is encouraging the Philippians to, ‘let your sweet reasonableness be known to all men,’ how will they practically effect it? It is unattainable by sheer force of will, dint of effort or power of self-discipline. It can only come from Christ and by the Spirit of Christ as He renews us in the whole person after the image of Christ. Thus the verse which appears later in the chapter comes to the fore, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ How was Christ gentle? He was gentle by virtue of His understanding of the people with whom He was dealing. Whether it was Nicodemus, a teacher in Israel, the woman at the well, the man at the pool of Bethesda, or the maniac of Gadara, Christ understood them and thus treated each of them with the gentleness they needed. If we are to demonstrate the gentleness that Christ did, He must teach us to see people as He sees them. Thus we can learn to imitate Him in His gentleness. 

Our Good and Gracious Shepherd, 
we rejoice that You lead us by Your gentleness. 
We praise You that as we look to You, 
we may learn to be like You. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning