Gentle Strength
August 18, 2024
Philippians 4:4-7
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
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Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)
I don't know about you, but I used to skip from the admonition to "rejoice in the Lord always" right to the call to "not worry about anything." In doing so, I missed the great blessing and importance of letting our "gentleness be known to everyone."
Gentleness is an often overlooked characteristic of who we should be as Christians. When we are not gentle, we use power or coercion against others. They may bend to our will, but it defeats others rather than building allies. People may do what we want, and it may be the right thing, but it does not become "their" thing. Power creates subjects rather than sisters and brothers.
Gentleness makes change possible, rather than forcing it. Gentleness transforms people rather than defeating them. When it comes right down to it, now matter what bullies may think, gentleness is strength, and only those who are truly strong can be gentle.
May our Gentleness be known to everyone.
