UV 3035/10000 The Alpha of Gentleness
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2 v 24
The kind of leadership that Jesus calls us into is not of power or might or throwing one’s weight with others. It is about humility, gentleness, meekness, compassion and service. We are to slay our own egos and kill our pride. We are to be patient with all kinds of people. Our body language and our speech is to be marked by extraordinary gentleness. We are not striving to prove ourselves better or greater than anyone else. We are not trying to get ahead of others in the rat race of life.
Gentleness is a result of continually submitting ourselves to the control, discipline, correction and leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is a fruit of the spirit. It is a result of our imbibing much spiritual wisdom and developing ourselves in terms of patience and maturity of character. We cease to be rash or careless in the use of our words. We are to be gracious and non aggressive in our approach to people. Behind the gentleness of Jesus is His heart of compassion for all human beings. Imitating Him, we are not to show kindness only to those who are privileged, rich or powerful or influential but to all people, especially to those who are disadvantaged, weak or helpless.
The uni-verse above gives us a clue on how to go about getting gentle. We are to cease from striving to be better on our own strength but seek the Lord’s help and grace to be gentle and patient with all people, especially those we found very difficult to deal or relate with hitherto. Every word and action of ours should be passed through the several filters that the Word of God gives us. The Lord is pleased when we are humble and gentle. He found His servant Moses to be the most humble of people. The same Moses had once been very aggressive and had killed an Egyptian for oppressing a fellow Hebrew slave. But the Lord allowed him to go through experiences that gave him a broken, contrite and gentle spirit
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