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Gentleness Is an “Inside” Job
By Rick Warren

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV)

Gentleness is an important quality for you to practice. It diffuses conflict. It disarms critics. It’s persuasive. It’s attractive. It communicates love.

Most importantly, gentleness makes you more like Jesus. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “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” (NIV).

Wait. Does this mean that the stress you’re feeling in your life and the pressure you’re feeling in your life is because you are not gentle? Yes. Because the Bible says that the more gentle you become, the more Christ-like you become and the more at rest you will be.

Do you want to be at peace? Do you want to be like Jesus? You can’t just walk out your door and force yourself to be gentle. You can’t manufacture gentleness because inside, you’ll still be under stress. It’s got to be an “inside” job. It has to be the fruit of God’s Spirit inside you.

Jesus is gentle and humble. When you let him share your burden, you will walk with him in a close relationship. You will learn how to be more gentle and humble, and he will give you rest and peace, not stress and pressure.

Talk It Over

What does it mean to take Jesus’ yoke upon you?

Have you or someone you know ever used the excuse that you’re “just not a gentle person”? What other learned traits do we sometimes treat like they are inherent?

How have you seen a difference in your life, including becoming gentler, since you became a believer and received the Holy Spirit?