This is not a quality that is brought to the front in our society but it is essential for us as Christians to exhibit as a "witness" to a very rude, demanding, get what I want now...culture.
Paul wrote: "The servant of the Lord must be gentle."
The entire section states "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth...(2 Timothy 2:24,25)
Being gentle does not come with our flesh, but only as the Holy Spirit controls us. When we are aware of the presence of the Lord gentleness is possible. This quality Paul is stating to Timothy is of utmost importance in our witness "unto all men".
A calm and reasoning tone with gentleness is what the Lord wants as we teach. A very important note here is that we do not "win" anyone to the Lord but it is the Lord who gives them "repentence tot he acknowledging of the truth."
I can list many times when I have not been gentle in my life. These times are always when I try to respond on my own. Then I look like everyone around me in the world and there is no victory. I can react badly when I want my way over someone else's. I can get upset when something doesn't happen in the timing I think it should. I can respond negatively to good criticism. I can hold a grudge.
Recently I was reading the autobiography of Luis Palau, one of the world's foremost evangelists, and he said a moment of victory came when he heard a talk that broke through to him that it was Christ in him that was going to do all the work.
When we are aware of the presence of the Lord as we speak to another we can be very gentle aware of the holy presence with us. We can even be patient in the process knowing that we fought and argued, didn't we, before we came into the Kingdom.
We have in Project Lost Sheep some gentle teachers of children. Their effectiveness is not in there personality or words but in Jesus who is shining through their gentle and meek hearts.
Prayer:
Remind me Lord, that you were gentle, and I must allow awareness of you to create a gentle and meek spirit in me, even under opposition or hardship.
