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Day number 8 of our journey through Galatians 5:22-23 is here! Today we touch on gentleness. If you missed any of the first 7 days of this series make sure you check it all out HERE.
I think one of the most challenging "spiritual virtues" that we have touched on in this series so far is the one we're discussing today...gentleness. It's challenging in the sense that describing gentleness or rather defining what it means isn't really an easy task! After all...what does it really mean to be "gentle" anyways?!?!
Take a moment to ponder the question - what does being "gentle" look like? - and see how you would define it.
What comes to mind?
When I think "gentle" I naturally think little fluffy kittens, but hey that's just me. Hopefully you had something a little more defining in the sense of our own human gentleness come to mind!
In the broader sense of gentleness I think we get a glimpse of how God demonstrates gentleness every single to our very own beings when we look at the way he loves us. The way he loves on us, shows patience towards us, and gently molds us into who He created us to be is an incredible picture of gentleness.
Gentleness can most beautifully be shown when we are embodying the previous fruits of the Spirit that we have talked about here. When we are embodying love, patience, kindness, goodness, all those things, we tend to have this gentle ambiance radiating from us. In the same way that the Lord actively practices those virtues and shows gentleness in His works, we too can do the same as we learn to embody all the Fruits of the Spirit and begin to practice them in our own lives.
Being patient and kind and loving on those around us is the first step to becoming "gentle". Are you starting to see how it all comes together?!
To walk around with a loving, open, God serving heart, we start to naturally relate to others in a more gentle way; not judgmental, not "I'm better than you", not dominance, not anything but just gentle, humble, love for one another in Christ Jesus.
Sounds like a wonderful thing doesn't it?
What is one step that you can take today to begin living with a more gentle heart and life?
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
- Galatians 5:22-23
