People may be cruel. Life may be harsh. But Christ? He is gentle.
Paul said, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you” (2 Corinthians 10:1). Hard to resist such a tender invitation.
The Greek words here point to meekness. Yes, it rhymes with weakness, but it means the exact opposite! Meekness is strength reigned in. It’s yielding without surrendering. It’s power withheld and gentleness released.
Leo Buscaglia once said, “Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.” Nothing and no one is stronger than our Jesus.
One of our online sisters, Matilda, confessed, “Many times I’m sure He could just shake us. But His gentleness prevails.” Yes, it does. Thank you, Lord.
Humility is the behavior He models. Gentleness is the language He speaks. We saw it on Palm Sunday when He entered Jerusalem, “gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5), just as Zechariah had prophesied centuries earlier.
The Lord bids us, “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” (Matthew 11:29) .
Rest. Could you use some of that? Right now? This minute? Because that’s what He’s offering. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Yes, please.
Janel admits, “When I’ve sinned, I tend to be a hider. He knows how to gently love me past those times.” So right. If we’re hurting, if we have questions, if our souls are uneasy and our hearts are burdened, the only safe place to land is in the arms of our gentle Savior.
Jesus honors those who are gentle, meek, and kind with this astounding promise: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5) .
The great and powerful, the mighty and militant? They inherit nothing. The Lord has reserved His Kingdom for those filled with “gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:23), the fruit of His Spirit.
Paul urged the believers at Philippi, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near” (Philippians 4:5).
He is near. All the time. When He asks us to come to Him, turn to Him, lean on Him, He is not asking us to travel some distance or struggle to reach Him. He is near. He is here.
Laura is grateful to know, “His gentleness brings us through.”
Lord Jesus, our world is anything but gentle. Now, more than ever, we need Your gentleness, Your kindness, Your tenderness to ease our feelings of helplessness, of uselessness, of restlessness. We don’t know what the world is coming to, Lord. Help us rest in the reality that You know.
What does the gentleness of Jesus mean to you today? Please share your thoughts below, for your own sake (it helps to put things in writing), as well as to encourage others. And, if you’re curious, I found this gentle shepherd and his flock at Nazareth Village in Nazareth, Israel. He truly exudes the tenderness of Christ. Please, Lord, may we all do the same.
Your grateful sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs
