By The Spirit - GENTLENESS
Well friends, we are nearly done with our study!! I’ve enjoyed writing this so much, it’s been so wonderful for my soul and Spirit. I hope it is aligning your day the way it’s aligning mine. God has so much in store for us.
Today we are talking about the fruit of the Spirit gentleness.
This is such a powerful fruit of the Spirit. The word for gentleness is the feminine noun praotēs. It means meekness, mildness, gentleness.
Jesus was praotēs.
In one of my favorite scriptures about our savior, Jesus describes the kind of life we can have in the Spirit. In Matthew 11 Jesus claims that in Him we can have rest. And ease in life. A PEACE. He boldly claims:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The word he uses for himself is GENTLE, and humble in heart. Jesus was meek.
The word meek to me always reminded me of Schmiegel from Lord of the Rings. I would hear “meek” and think of that little weak creature hiding in a corner. I associated meekness with weakness.
Meekness, however, is something Jesus was.
And Jesus certainly isn’t weak.
When he returns, he will ride on a white horse, he will be called Faithful and True, his eyes will be like fire, and FRIEND,
He will not look REMOTELY weak. (For reference, read Revelations 19:11-16)
Jesus was, however meek. To be meek meant to have immense power, but to choose to not exercise it.
To have power under control.
Gentleness, mildness, meekness, is NOT passivity friends. Make no mistake about it. To be meek means you understand your gifts, your power, your strength, but you choose to only exercise it for the sake of others. Never for yourself.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:5: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
What kind of people do you think God would put in charge of the WHOLE EARTH?
People who had immense power, gifting - but who exercised it for the sake of others.
Today a woman wrote me and asked for my definition of leadership. In my opinion, leadership is not being the most charismatic, having the most people report to you, having the loudest megaphone. It’s not instagram followers or writing books or speaking at leadership summits.
It’s just not.
This was the answer I gave: Leadership is to have power, but to leverage for the sake of other people. THAT’S A LEADER.
Andy Stanley says “how do I give of ME so you have more for YOU.”
That’s a leader.
Today, may you be blessed knowing that God wants you to EMPOWER YOU, but that when he does it’s for the sake of empowering others. This is gentleness. Power under control.
For the sake of the kingdom.
Until tomorrow,
jessie
Scripture Verses:
Matthew 5:5
Titus 3:1-2
Matthew 11:1-29