Day 9: January 16, 2024
Planting the Seeds of Gentleness
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-2 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…
Ponder: With the political, economic and international climate so disarrayed in our day, tension and stress levels are at an overwhelming high and anger abounds. So much so, we now have a popular trend in our culture called Rage Rooms. Perhaps you’re not familiar with a Rage or Smash Room, but it’s exactly what it sounds like. You can pay to enter a room full of ceramic ware, small appliances, glass items and others smashables. You are given your instrument of choice- a baseball bat, sledgehammer, or handheld hammer, crow bar, etc.., and you are let loose to smash anything you desire. The purpose is to let out all your anger and stress by swinging, swatting and shattering things. Interesting concept to say the least, but I guess it beats (no pun intended) swinging and swatting at people.
When we start swinging and swatting literally, and figuratively at people, we are attempting to exert some form of power, a sense of authority, and our anger in an aggressive and forceful way. The epitome of pridefulness. Something is going to shatter. Usually, it’s people we have some like or love for, and someone God values that we end up hurting emotionally. That’s why God calls Christians who live on planet earth, which itself sometimes feels like one huge rage room, to make our weapon of choice, a velvet covered hammer. That’s what the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness is like. It’s not weakness, but actually strength under control. Jesus was gentle and meek, but nothing about Him was weak. We help people and honor God when we approach them, friend or foe, with an attitude of gentleness. Plant the seeds of gentleness today by speaking truth with love, honoring the value of the person, and wanting to genuinely help them or the situation.
Practice: How thick is the velvet that covers your attitude toward people who disagree with you or even intentionally offend you? How will you begin to respond to them with gentleness?
Pray: Lord, forgive me for my tendency to assert myself aggressively in order to exude my power, with no other motive than my own self-aggrandizement. And help me to grow in the fruit of gentleness, and give me the ability to respond like Christ when others disagree or disrespect me. AMEN.
Planting the Seeds of Gentleness
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-2 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…
Ponder: With the political, economic and international climate so disarrayed in our day, tension and stress levels are at an overwhelming high and anger abounds. So much so, we now have a popular trend in our culture called Rage Rooms. Perhaps you’re not familiar with a Rage or Smash Room, but it’s exactly what it sounds like. You can pay to enter a room full of ceramic ware, small appliances, glass items and others smashables. You are given your instrument of choice- a baseball bat, sledgehammer, or handheld hammer, crow bar, etc.., and you are let loose to smash anything you desire. The purpose is to let out all your anger and stress by swinging, swatting and shattering things. Interesting concept to say the least, but I guess it beats (no pun intended) swinging and swatting at people.
When we start swinging and swatting literally, and figuratively at people, we are attempting to exert some form of power, a sense of authority, and our anger in an aggressive and forceful way. The epitome of pridefulness. Something is going to shatter. Usually, it’s people we have some like or love for, and someone God values that we end up hurting emotionally. That’s why God calls Christians who live on planet earth, which itself sometimes feels like one huge rage room, to make our weapon of choice, a velvet covered hammer. That’s what the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness is like. It’s not weakness, but actually strength under control. Jesus was gentle and meek, but nothing about Him was weak. We help people and honor God when we approach them, friend or foe, with an attitude of gentleness. Plant the seeds of gentleness today by speaking truth with love, honoring the value of the person, and wanting to genuinely help them or the situation.
Practice: How thick is the velvet that covers your attitude toward people who disagree with you or even intentionally offend you? How will you begin to respond to them with gentleness?
Pray: Lord, forgive me for my tendency to assert myself aggressively in order to exude my power, with no other motive than my own self-aggrandizement. And help me to grow in the fruit of gentleness, and give me the ability to respond like Christ when others disagree or disrespect me. AMEN.
Posted in Harvest Devotionals
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