Gentleness Is Powerful

From: More Heart to Heart: Godly Wisdom Woman To Woman By: Valerie Jean Hallowell

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

“Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

One of the older boys was playing too roughly with his baby sister, so his mother whispered quietly, “Honey, be gentle.” She had learned from the Word that a “soft” voice is very effective (Prov. 15:1¹A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)).

The Lord Jesus was gentle, “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)). The word meek means humble or gentle, not giving or taking offense.

The same skillful hands that formed the sea and the dry land, the sun, moon, and stars, touched little children. He touched blind eyes, the dumb and deaf, and the leper. He touched the hand of a dead girl, and the hand of Peter’s wife’s mother. With the same loving hands, the Lord “gently leads” mothers with little ones (Isaiah 40:11¹¹He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)).

“The gentleness of Christ” motivated Paul in dealing with the Corinthians (2 Cor.10:1). Paul was “gentle ... as a nurse” with the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:7).

The Scriptures encourage all of us to be loving and kind to each other (1 Peter 5:5). The servant of the Lord must not “contend, but be gentle towards all” (2 Tim. 2:24 JND).

Fathers should not “provoke their children to anger” (Col. 3:21²¹Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (Colossians 3:21); Eph. 6:4⁴And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)).

Wives are told to have a “meek and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4).

Young women are to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:4⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (Titus 2:4)).

Be ye kind one to another, including employers and employees (Eph. 4:32³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)) (See also Col. 4:1; 3:22¹Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1)
²²Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (Colossians 3:22)).

“All of you bind on humility towards one another” (1 Peter 5:5 JND).

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