“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12)

Gentleness. Meekness.

In modern day English neither words portray strength or power. Instead they imply the opposite.

Gentleness. Meekness.

Doesn’t seem very American. And that’s a shame because these are qualities that are absolutely necessary for today’s America.

The word translated as meekness is the same word as gentleness in the Greek. One of the best ways of understanding meekness and gentleness is the picture of a lioness carrying her cub in her mouth. The lioness possesses all the power in jaws and fangs to kill a cub. It would not take much effort on her part to do so. But what keeps her from doing so is her love for the cub. But this doesn’t mean she doesn’t possess the power. It just means she restrains because of her love and care for her cub.

The ultimate picture of meekness and gentleness is Jesus on the cross. He did not have to die the death of the cross. At any time during his trial and crucifixion all of the forces of heaven and earth to crush evildoers was available to him. The power to do so was always and constantly available. But it was his love for sinners, his love for you and me, that he chose restraint because his restraint and suffering meant our life for you and me. He chose us instead.

That is meekness.

Power under love.

Oh man! Our world could use a boatloads of meekness. Even though meekness and gentleness may not be an American trait, let’s make sure it is a Christian trait!

“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

You don’t always have to insist on being right.

Sometimes, it is wiser to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There are times truth absolutely matters. When it comes to the essentials of the faith – Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the Bible is the absolute authority, etc., – truth absolutely matters.

But when it comes to pretty much everything else, what matters more in relationships is a spirit of humility and gentleness, patience, and a willingness to bear with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit of the bond of peace.

It is exhausting to be with someone who insists on being right and someone who wants to make sure that everyone else knows that they are right all the time.

• Such an attitude and spirit destroys relationships, community, and fellowship
• Such an attitude and spirit makes a mockery of Christ because it goes against the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So Christians, please be kind, humble, loving, peaceful, joyful, and gentle with the people around you. Everyone you come eye-ball to eye-ball with today is someone for whom God could not imagine eternity without. So everyone you encounter today is someone for whom God sent his Son to die so that they may live eternally.

So as the Apostle Paul says, “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

“My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted” (Galatians 6:1)

Some say that the church is filled with hypocrites, and they are right.

Some say that the church is filled with messed up people, and they are right.

Some say that they know better people who aren’t Christians, and they are right.

The church is filled up with messed up people because the church is filled up with people like you and me.

That’s why the spirit of gentleness is essential. We’re going to mess up because there are no perfect people in the church. And when we mess up, sin, transgress the role of the church is never to condemn but always to restore. That’s a good thing. That’s a great thing! Because we’re all going to mess it up. We’re all going to need restoration.

The thing that makes the church different than any other organization is grace and the spirit of gentleness, because the church is the place of restoring people into a right relationship with God and with one another.