Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness

When we are caught in conflict with one another, our lives show whether our words and actions are coming from God or from our own sinful intentions. Gentleness is one of the hallmarks of someone whose actions overflow from their relationship with God. As we continue to grow in relationship with the Spirit, we become more gentle, not less. We learn to speak and act with gentleness.

What’s most useful to me as I (Matt) discern how to use gentle speech is paying attention to Christ’s priorities. Jesus always spoke with the most gentleness to those who were “the least of these” in society. He was so gentle with children, with women, with foreigners, and with the sick. In those rare occasions he seemed to lack gentleness, he was usually confronting people with power who were harming those around them—almost always the religious elite, the wealthy, or both.

“I am gentle and humble in heart,” said Jesus (Matthew 11:29). How much are you like the gentle Jesus? How much am I?

When I reflect on my past, I see that I have consistently miscalculated my own strength—I was stronger than I thought. And I also wasn’t aware enough to see the vulnerabilities of others and what might hurt them. I wasn’t gentle because I didn’t know myself or others well.

When we’re addressing huge, personal, important topics like abortion, divorce, abuse, sexual orientation, gender identity, and politics, too often our instinct is to be less gentle. But these are precisely the topics that call for ever greater gentleness and even more kindness. As the Spirit leads us into all truth and conforms us to the image of Christ, we, too, will become meek and gentle.

Questions for Reflection

Think back over a recent interaction with someone you disagreed with. How might you have handled that situation in a more Christlike manner?