What has happened to gentleness? I think it’s something that today’s world would benefit from greatly! There are plenty of people who are polite on the surface, but cross them and they explode! What has happened to gentleness? We are supposed to be a tolerant society, but try disagreeing with those who say we should tolerate everything!
Paul tells Titus to teach the church to be gentle (Titus 3:2). It’s a word that we need today. Notice where the motivation for gentleness comes from, it comes from how God has treated us. Paul reminds Titus what we were like before we were saved, we were just the same “slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy.” But then something happened – the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour happened! Jesus Christ appeared, the one who is gentle and lowly. He appeared, and He didn’t start telling us to pull our socks up, He didn’t begin with finger wagging. He saved us, not because we deserved it, but because of His mercy (Titus 3:5).
Jesus Christ has been so gentle with us, He’s treated us with mercy, he has washed us and God has so generously poured His Spirit into our lives (Titus 3:6). One of the fruits of the Spirit is gentleness. You can’t produce fruit by trying really hard. An apple tree doesn’t squeeze really hard and pop out an apple! It just comes naturally. A Christian has the Holy Spirit, and the fruit should come naturally as we allow God to work in our lives. If we are not gentle with others, could it be that we have not realised our need of God’s mercy? Could it be that we have not received His Spirit? Jesus tells us to ask, and we will receive. Ask God for mercy, thank Him for His gift of Jesus, dying in your place for all the times you have not been gentle with others. Ask Him for His Holy Spirit to help you to be gentle, to transform you from the inside.
Our world needs more gentleness, and it can only come from God.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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