Galatians 5:22-26 (NET) 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.
We could say much about gentleness from the perspective of being kind or generous. Another definition of gentle, now seeming to be archaic, is the reference to having the qualities of someone of good birth, or a refined person. Gentleness also encompasses a mild or moderate disposition. Yet my reputation for seeking something unusual prompts me again today. There is one other use of the word gentle that suggests something that is easily tamed or handled well.
James 1:26 (NET) If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
James 3:5-6 (NET) 5So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies.
James 3:7-10 (NIV) 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Psalm 141 3-4 (NIV) 3Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 29:20 (NIV) Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
God’s Word is abundantly clear. If we expect to demonstrate love to others through gentleness; perhaps we first need to put a check on the words coming out of our mouth. Not only the specific words used, but also the attitude and expressions accompanying those words! Sarcasm does not promote love. Tongue-in-cheek does not promote love. Coarse joking or coarse talk does not promote love. Using the Lord’s name in vain, or for that matter any other type of explicative, does not promote love. Gentleness that demonstrates love will tame and handle well its speech.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
With the Psalmist we ask you to set a guard over our mouth. Let our words demonstrate a gentle and loving spirit to others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scriptures quotations marked NET are taken from the New English Translation Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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