DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Fruit of the Spirit: GENTLENESS
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Friday, April 4 - Tuesday, April 8
Fri., April 4
What's He Like?
By Pastor Dan Hickling
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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”—Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)
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“What’s God like?” That’s the fundamental question that we’ve been answering over the past several days as we’ve been taking a close look at the “fruit” or the evidences of the Holy Spirit as He produces them in a Christian’s life. Now it’s worth reminding that when we talk about this fruit, we’re not just talking about arbitrary things. These are the very qualities of the Holy Spirit, Himself! He produces love because He is loving, He produces joy because He is joyful, He produces peace because He is peaceful, and so on.
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That’s an important truth to hold onto, because whenever we delve into a spiritual subject, we’re dealing with something we can’t see with our natural eyes. As a result, we can drift in our comprehension of it. And here’s how this can happen when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit: We can start to see the fruit as a sort of product or piece of produce rather than an extension of the very character of the Lord. “Yeah, I know God wants me to be patient so He walks into His heavenly warehouse, goes down the patience isle, grabs a box off the shelf, pulls out some patience, and then drops it in my spiritual shopping cart. Right?”
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How many of us have thought like that? But that’s so not what Scripture reveals on this subject. God isn’t desiring anything for or in us that isn’t also in Him. He’s not an impersonal sales clerk dispensing spiritual inventory. Rather, He’s as intimately involved in making these qualities realities in our lives as one could ever imagine. The closest natural image we can grasp is how a tree imparts its life-giving and fruit-producing properties to the branches that are connected to it. That’s the natural picture of the spiritual reality. God is, through the agency of His Holy Spirit, imparting His life, the very characteristics of who He is, into us. The fruit is the very reflection of Him.
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At the end of the day, everyone, even those who have a deep and abiding faith in God, desires to know what He’s like. More than a desire, it’s a basic need we all have. We know it’s a need because God went to the greatest lengths to provide for this need by revealing what He’s like through His Son, Jesus. Christ left His place in heaven and was born into this world so humanity could witness what God is really like. That is what we see in Christ’s earthly existence—the Almighty Creator walking amidst and declaring Himself to His creation. And what’s He like? Notice in today’s verse that He says, “I am gentle.”
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God is gentle. He isn’t harsh, cruel, insensitive, or abrasive. Re-read today’s passage to get a profound picture of what this gentleness is like. It’s His Spirit who works in us to produce this very quality in all those who are connected to Him through faith. What’s God like? A life filled with the gentleness of God’s Spirit is part of the answer.
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Pause: How does the fruit of the Spirit help in understanding what God is like?
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Practice: Consider how you should view the process of God’s Spirit producing fruit in your life.
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Pray: Lord, I am humbled and awed by the work You undertake in my life. You meet me in my deepest depravity and cleanse me and then go even further by producing who You are in me! Thank You for doing such a work as this and may I never lose sight of all that’s involved in Your Spirit’s work in my life. Amen.
Sat., April 5
The Way We Act and Speak Matters
By Samantha Rodriguez
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“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”—Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
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Whether you know the Bible inside and out or you’re just beginning to read it more for yourself, this proverb is probably something you’ve heard before. Proverbs is normally filled with statements of wisdom that even those who don’t follow Jesus would abide by or agree with for the most part. This is because the wisdom of the Book of Proverbs is often common and has been proven to be true in the everyday world. In today’s Scripture, the wisdom offered relates to how we communicate with other people. The advice is that gentle answers will not provoke wrath whereas harsh words often stir up anger.
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We can see this to be true in our own lives. I saw this Scripture come to life once when I had to help mediate a conflict between four girls who were living together in my hall. As a resident assistant at a university, you usually are the first point of contact when there’s an issue. A resident of mine came to me with concerns about their suitemate, which is the person they share a bathroom with. There had been a few previous interactions between these girls where they communicated using rude and disrespectful language. In our meeting together, all of the anger was uncovered as they tried to justify themselves to each other.
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Long story short, I had to point out to both of them that the way in which they said their words is what communicated the disrespect. Although some of the things they were saying to one another didn’t necessarily sound rude if read off a paper, it was the way in which it was said that brought about the anger. I wanted to share this story because I think we often forget that our nonverbal communication speaks just as loud, and sometimes even louder, than our actual verbal communication. This is important to recognize when considering the fruit of gentleness because gentleness often is displayed in the way we act towards each other. When we give someone a gentle answer, it doesn’t mean it should be sugar-coated or a straight-up lie; it just means that we answer with humility, non-judgment, and compassion.
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When you think about gentleness, I want you to think about someone being nurturing and steady. These two qualities are ideally found in our parents. The example of parents who truly care for their children will always involve the example of them disciplining their children as well. They nurture them and also remain steady in truth and in their rules for them. This combination of nurturing and being steady is what gentleness is all about. If we ask God to help us grow in these areas, He will give us opportunities to practice being gentle with those around us.
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If you find yourself in any interpersonal interaction, you’ll probably find the opportunity to practice gentleness. Although it doesn’t come as easily to some as it may for others, that is what makes the fruit of the Spirit so important. We must cultivate them by daily rooting ourselves in Scripture, prayer, and worship. We must allow the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit within us for the purpose of glorifying Him with how we treat others!
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Pause: Have you ever considered the impact that your nonverbal behavior could have on others? How does it relate to gentleness?
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Practice: Today, take note of how you can be nurturing and steady to the people in your life. Make an effort to truly show gentleness in your interactions with those around you.
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Pray: Father God, You are the most gentle being to exist. Thank You for treating me with care and kindness. You nurture, You’re steady, and You always love in truth! That is what gentleness is all about. So, I ask You to help those qualities to grow in me. Whatever I need to root out of my heart in order to become more gentle, may You show me. Thank You so much for Your abundant grace! May my life overflow with it. Amen.
Sun., April 6
Meek and Gentle
By Danny Saavedra
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“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”—Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
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As I examine the entire Marvel Studios collection, I’ve most enjoyed the Captain America films. There is just so much heart and sincerity in the character, and a real moral center! For me, one of the most poignant scenes in the entire trilogy took place in the first film when Steve Rogers asks the doctor why he was chosen for the Super-Soldier Program. And Dr. Abraham Erskine, played by the fantastic actor Stanley Tucci, answers: “Because the strong man who has known power all his life may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength and knows compassion.”
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As I considered the fruit of gentleness, both today’s verse and this specific scene immediately came to mind! You see, it all goes back to the word meek. In the Greek, this word is praeis, the same word we see in Galatians 5:23 that we translate as gentle or gentleness. It means to be mild, to express power with care or in a reserved way. It’s the balance between gentleness and strength. And as with all the different godly character attributes that we collectively call the fruit of the Spirit, gentleness originates with God, but it has a divine origin in us. It is, like the rest of the fruit, a supernatural result of the work of the Spirit in us who makes us gentle as we grow in relationship with the very God whom all these attributes come from.
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Interestingly, though, despite being listed among this amazing list of God’s character and nature, there are many both inside and outside the church who would attach a negative connotation to the term gentle or meek, almost thinking of it as weakness. Despite this, I can assure you that biblical meekness is the opposite of weakness. Rather, gentleness/meekness refers to exercising God's strength under His control. It’s understanding and valuing power because you know that true power only comes from God, that apart from Him we can do nothing, and that He has been and continues to be gentle with us. And because you have this understanding, you cling to compassion rather than anger; you act—and react—as Christ did, without undue harshness, responding instead with kindness, sincerity, and love.
Gentleness also speaks of endurance—of being hurt but having the restraint to not seek vengeance. Why? Because you know God will vindicate you in the end. It’s constantly reminding yourself of Romans 12:19 (NIV) which says, "’It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord." Theologian Joseph Barnes emphasized that “Meekness . . . is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance.”
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And above all, practicing gentleness produces peace. It’s proof of the soul’s reliance on God, of the mark the Spirit has made on our heart! It’s what happens when we come to Jesus and take His yoke upon us, because He is “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29 KJV). It comes from a heart that understands who God is and who you are in Him, so much so that you aren’t moved to anger or shaken by insults and persecution. It looks upon others—even those who seek to harm you—with compassion. That’s why the meek inherit the earth—the new earth, the inheritance of God’s children!
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Pause: Read John 18:23, Acts 16:37, Matthew 11:29, and Romans 12:19. Can you think of a time when you’ve exercised gentleness or saw it in the actions of someone else? What was the result of it?
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Practice: This week, as you interact with others, intentionally exercise gentleness and reliance on the Lord, and show the compassion of Christ.
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Pray: Father, thank You for Your promise that the meek and gentle will inherit the earth, that those whom You have imbued with your divine character attributes through the Spirit as we devote our lives to knowing You and enjoying relationship with You will receive a reward for simply abiding in You and walking with You! What an incredible truth this is, Father. I pray that as I devote myself daily to relationship with You, that You would soften my heart, make me gentle and that You would use me to show people who You are and draw to Your Son. Amen.
Mon. April 7
Gentle Giant
By Pastor Dan Hickling
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“Be completely . . . gentle . . .”—Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
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Gentleness, in addition to being among the characteristics the Holy Spirit desires to produce in the life of every Christian, is something of an enigma. On the one hand, we applaud gentleness when it comes to certain things. We want our facial soaps, baby products, and antacids to be gentle. There’s also a special place in the hearts of many for the gentle grandmother who knows how to soothe our every sorrow.
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On the other hand, our culture doesn’t widely celebrate or encourage gentleness. When it comes to those we choose as our favorite athletes, entertainers, influencers, etc., gentleness isn’t much of a priority. That’s because we instinctively elevate strength, and gentleness can often appear to be the absence or total opposite of strength. If given the choice between strength and gentleness, we’re almost always going to choose strength.
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However, we don’t need to choose between the two because they’re not opposites of one another—they are complements to one another. Gentleness isn’t weakness. Rather, it’s controlled strength. It’s the ability to master one’s might in a manner that makes one fully approachable and accessible to others.
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This can be a challenging concept for us because we don’t see a lot examples of this around us. But we do have one perfect example of this balance of gentleness and strength . . . Jesus.
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Now, without question, there’s never been a more powerful person to walk this planet than Jesus. Consider His role in creation as the eternal Son of God, and that by Him all things were made and how nothing can exist apart from Him holding it all together (Colossians 1:15–17). Think about His miraculous ability to tame the natural elements and demonic forces that overwhelmed everyone else, not to mention the fortitude it took to oppose and upend the social structures and systems of His day. Without a doubt, Jesus is the Giant of all giants when it comes to strength.
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It can also be said that nobody has ever been more gentle than Jesus. His strength was so restrained that we don’t get a hint of anyone being intimidated by Him in the slightest. As a matter of fact, Jesus was so gentle and approachable that people from the lowest levels of that society came right to Him. Blind beggars, lepers, women of immoral reputation . . . they all sensed and leaned into the gentle nature of Jesus. He was so un-intimidating that protective mothers even trusted Jesus to handle and bless their precious children. Truly, the gentleness of Jesus looms large over all He was and did!
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Again, gentleness and strength aren’t enemies, they’re allies. Strength is never stronger than when it’s used in the service of others. But a strength that only intimidates others can never fulfill its true potential, no matter how strong it is. Gentleness breaks down this barrier and creates a bridge that allows for powerful connections that can transform lives. This is what we see in the life of Jesus, and it’s what the Holy Spirit wants to see in us. The fruit of gentleness is what He produces and uses to make this a lived-out reality in our lives.
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Pause: What are some common misconceptions about gentleness and how should it be understood?
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Practice: Consider a time when you’ve witnessed the balance of strength and gentleness at work in your life.
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Pray: Lord, I come to You confessing that I need to grow in gentleness and to exercise it as You did. May Your Spirit’s presence in me produce the kind of quality that invites and draws others into the good work You’re doing in our lives. May I be approachable and accessible to others so I can be used by You in other’s lives. Amen.
Tues., April 8
Gentle Seasoning
By Danny Saavedra
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“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”—Colossians 4:5–6 (NIV, emphasis added)
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Have you ever heard the expression, “Carpe diem”? It’s Latin for “seize the day!” Maybe you’re more familiar with YOLO (you only live once). The whole idea is we shouldn’t waste the time we’ve been given and instead make the most of each day.
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In today’s passage, Paul gives us similar advice but for different reasons. For Paul, seizing the opportunities presented each day isn’t about packing in enjoyment, pleasure, riches, and experiences for ourselves. It’s about God and others!
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The advice Paul gives to “make the most of every opportunity,” is sandwiched between two instructions:
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders.”
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Making the most of every opportunity is directly tied to the way we treat and interact with those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Savior. So, these opportunities he’s referring to are opportunities to draw people to Jesus, to be His hands and feet, to plants good seeds, and to make the gospel attractive. So, how do we do that?
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“Let your conversation be always full of grace.”
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Anytime we talk to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, they should leave feeling as though they were loved well, heard, valued, and shown empathy and respect. Your speech should feel like balm, gentle and exhibiting humility in every word. They should feel a peace and uplifting they can’t explain. People should be able to see there’s something unique and deeply beautiful about the way we speak to and treat them. And that unique, beautiful thing is the presence of Christ in us, our good shepherd who is “gentle and lowly in heart,” who uses us to bring “rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29 ESV).
“Seasoned with salt”
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Salt makes things taste better; it brings out the best in food. It brings depth of flavor, which produces greater enjoyment. In essence, when someone who doesn’t know Jesus leaves a conversation with you, a believer, they should be left with a good taste in their mouth. We should have added something valuable and palatable to their life. We should have enhanced their life in some way, flavored it with something irresistible. And that irresistible thing is the gospel, even if they don’t yet realize it! In order to do that, we must be wise in our speech.
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What does that look like? In Titus 3:1–2 (NIV), Paul gives some more detailed instructions on what making the most of these opportunities looks like, saying, “Remind the people . . . to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”
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Listen, I promise you that you will rock the world in ways you never thought possible if you walk in gentleness and humility! I’m talking being full of grace and considerate toward someone who is politically the opposite of what you believe, someone whose lifestyle, whose views on sexuality, gender, whose religious background you completely disagree with. I’m talking about someone who is just really difficult to be around, someone who is nasty and rude and belligerent.
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I pray that in a world full of outrage, Twitter feuds, trolling, and endless amounts of hate and vitriol, we could seize every moment given to us by God to breathe gentleness, goodness, and the grace and the love of Jesus into the hearts of those who don’t yet know Him
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Pause: What does your online conduct say about you? What about the way you talk to or treat people in stores, restaurants, or in traffic? Are you being wise in the way you act toward those who aren’t believers? Are you being gentle, full of grace, and seasoned with salt?
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Practice: The next time you’re going into a conversation with someone who doesn’t know Jesus, pray first! Ask the Spirit to fill you with His wisdom, to help you, to breathe His presence and gentleness into the words you say, and to use you to bring about good in that person’s life and draw them to Jesus.
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Pray: Father, by Your Spirit, make me gentler and full of grace for people, particularly those whom I disagree with. Help me to make the most of every opportunity to point people to the good shepherd, Your Son, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.