gentleness

Abide: Gentleness

June 1, 2020 By Joe

Our nation watched with sad hearts this past weekend as peaceful protests turned to violent riots.

While many this morning are trying to sort out the peaceful from the riotous, writing about possible motives behind the violence, my aim is to focus on the spiritual fruit of gentleness.

The timing for this post works well in light of the troubled times we’re living in. If violence and injustice were replaced with meekness and gentleness, think of the progress we’d make in safety as a country! And while I am grateful to live in a country where the ability to gather and peacefully protest is still possible, I know the problems in our country won’t be healed by protest alone. We need leadership that is meek and gentle. We need the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 11:28–30

[28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (ESV)

Matthew 11 begins the record of opposition against Jesus. The beginning of the chapter is the mild opposition that comes from the troubled questions of John the Baptist. Then comes the rebuke to the unrepentant Capernaum cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida which had rejected Jesus as the Messiah.

How does Jesus respond to the doubts of His followers and the outright rejection by whole towns? He explains who He is and extends a gracious invitation.

Jesus is gentle and lowly in heart. That’s our Fruit of the Spirit word: gentle. It is synonymous with humility, and it’s specifically self-forgetfulness, prioritizing others and responding calmly even when they are aggressive. This describes Jesus. He invites all to come to Him who labor and are heavy laden. This describes us.

This is the pastor who’s burdened by the needs of God’s people.

This is the dad or mom in the daily grind of shepherding their kids.

This is the protester that seeks to right some wrong.

This is all of us weighed down by our sin in this broken world.

I so wish this whole world would look up to see Jesus and turn to Him in repentance and faith! When we wrestle with our failures and sins and are weary and weighed down, oh that we would always see Christ. Isaiah prophesied that “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (40:11).

What’s ironic is that we don’t expect gentleness to get us far in this world. We feel keenly the message that tough skin is required and outspoken boldness is necessary for others to hear us. Tough skin is helpful, but, if we’re truly going to be changed by Jesus, the skin underneath must be soft.

King David was a powerful leader. The Israelites sang he killed tens of thousands of Israel’s enemies. He wrangled with lions and bears and cut off the head of a giant. So how did he review his kingship towards the end of his life? Twice the Bible records David’s words as he praised God. Here are the words that apply:

Psalm 18:35 – You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (see also 2 Samuel 22:36).

I was amazed by David’s meditation on his rule as Israel’s mighty king. He said to God, “Your gentleness made me great.” Can you imagine that? It seems counter-intuitive to our way of thinking. How can gentleness, humility and meekness lead to greatness? Yet that is the way of God, it’s the character of our Lord Jesus, and it is the way of sanctification for us (see Matthew 20:25-28).

Friends, seek the Lord for this quality of gentleness. I’m convicted by the need for this fruit, and I am led to ask some assessment questions:

Am I marked by humility and a gentle spirit toward others?
What would those closest to me say? Do they feel safe to share their opinions and concerns with me? Or do my words and attitudes shut them down?
Do I often cut people off while they try to speak, roll my eyes with frustration or raise my voice slightly to indicate they need to be quiet? These are signs of self-absorption.

The Lord knows your need of gentleness. Accept His invitation today. Learn from Him. See Him as gentle and lowly in heart, and you will continually find rest for your souls. And you will extend that rest to others.

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control

Counsel for the Heart: Tools for Restoration (Gal. 6:1-5)

May 15, 2020 By Joe

It’s been very instructive for me to focus on the fruit of the Spirit. In the average daily struggle, calling to mind my Comforter and Counselor and Agent of true change has been such a help!

How has it been for you to study the spiritual fruit? We have one more time together today to dig into the practical method of walking by the Spirit, evidencing His fruit and applying it in the restoration of fellow believers.

Galatians 6:1–5

[1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. [2] Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. [3] For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. [4] But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. [5] For each will have to bear his own load. (ESV)

Getting to the Heart:

We learned yesterday that the Lord Jesus is in the process of restoring each of us to His image. He is the absolute best at the work of restoration. He sees the finished product, and just as one house is different from another, so the Lord knows the uniqueness of every believer. As a Master carpenter, Jesus knows all about using tools, and his main tools in the people restoration projects are you and me! And He further counsels us about the tools we need to follow His plans for restoring one another. Yesterday we learned about Gentleness and Watchfulness. Today let’s dig in further to learn about the other two tools we need in our restoration kits.

Gentleness.
Watchfulness. (For these first two see the previous article in this series).
Love – Paul says that restoration requires burden-bearing, and this fulfills the law of Christ. What law? Aren’t we free from the law now? Well, yes, but also no. The law of God is no threat to our security and freedom, but by the Spirit we are free to work out our salvation, and in this case it is the law of love for neighbor. Remember how Jesus bore the burden of our sin, all the way to the cross (see 1 Pet. 2:24)? This was love in action! We are called to enter the messiness of sin, not to partake in it but to rescue and restore someone. Even when we would cringe at entering a messy situation with someone, we can rejoice to identify with our Burden-bearer.
Your backpack – Ok, this tool doesn’t seem to match the others, but it’s legitimately in these verses! Galatians 6:5 says “Each will have to bear his own load.” “Load” is not the same word as “burden” (6:2). It actually refers to a small pack that a traveler would wear, and the pack is essential and as personal as each individual. Another skill that Jesus wants His followers to have is the skill of honest self-assessment, and that’s what the text means by “each will have to bear his own load.” Each of us has unique skills, setbacks, strengths and weaknesses. We do no good by comparing ourselves with others, but there’s a humility that comes when we remember who we are and the growth God has worked out in us over time. Each of us has limitations in carrying out our spiritual responsibility, but that shouldn’t stop us from seeking to restore others! If anything an honest self-assessment provides us with two things (at least): 1) a healthy “boasting” in what God has done in our lives: a cause for rejoicing; 2) patience with others in their sin, especially not taking personally what they say or do. When someone may respond in anger we can rightly think, I don’t know what that brother may be facing today or what is in his backpack. Perhaps he’s farther along with the Lord than he was a year ago. Regardless, the Lord is at work!

The bottom line: if we would apply gentleness, humility, love and a proper self-awareness to our ministry of restoration, we will do well, and others will come to know the love and support of our loving Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s talk it over:

What strengths has God equipped you with to help you minister to others?
What difficulties have you faced in your life that could help you to bear the burdens of others with gentleness and love?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You have loved us and sought us each time we’ve gone astray. You sacrificed Yourself for us so that we would see Your worth and have hope to return to You. Lord, please help us to grow in the ministry of restoring others. Help us to recall when you have restored us and help us grow in humility to be of use to You. Amen.

Worship in Song:

His Forever

Memory Passage: Galatians 5:22–24

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV)

Counsel for the Heart: Restoration (Gal. 6:1-5)

May 14, 2020 By Joe

Who doesn’t like Fixer Upper?

That’s a rhetorical question. I’m arguing for the sake of point that men like to take a sledgehammer and demolish a non-load-bearing wall. Women love the same sometimes, and they get to add to it design, flowers, and happy family memory-making times.

The concept of home improvement shows revolves around finding an old home with good bones and putting in the time, money, love and effort to restore it.

Please know that those who claim the name of Christ are also in need of restoration. Each of us has been saved and secured by the work of Christ Jesus for us, but each of us falls into what the Bible calls “a trespass” now and again, and we need restoration. Let’s go back to Galatians for one more time in this series to read about the work of spiritual restoration.

Galatians 6:1–5

Getting to the Heart:

No one restores broken-down saints like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus sees beyond the brokenness to what is true in the life of the sinful saint. He sees the full potential of what He has done and will yet do. His finished work in the fallen believer will be glorious, beautiful and someday perfect! In the mean-time, Jesus chooses to use every one of His followers in the restoration work of a brother caught in any trespass.

Yesterday I mentioned that this work is for the “spiritual” (6:1). Remember, that has nothing to do with a higher spiritual status. It refers to the “mature,” who know they are nothing without Jesus, and in humility depend on the Spirit to be of use to the Master in the lives of other people. After all, they know they have been loved by Jesus, and they want to love others like that.

Jesus equips you with tools for the restoration process of a broken brother. Today I’ll mention 2 and on Friday the rest.

Gentleness – Where have we seen this before? In the fruit of the Spirit. We studied the meaning of gentleness in another post in this series. Let’s redefine it. Gentleness is essentially self-forgetfulness. It’s not self-deprecation or speaking ill of yourself. It’s the fruit of Christ that helps you put yourself aside so you can humbly focus on the needs of someone else. You and I need this when we restore someone, otherwise we will be mad at being inconvenienced by someone else’s sin or fearful that the problem will overwhelm us. Gentleness is a quality that we need the Spirit to produce in us. It’s love, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control in action.
Watchfulness – Whenever I watch a Fixer Upper episode, there’s one unwritten law that always comes up: there are hidden problems that will come up and cost an extra thousand dollars, at least. There’s a hidden cost in spiritual restoration too: your own sin problems come up during times of spiritual restoration. Your problems will appear like a bee-hive inside a wall! When you are called on to consider another above yourself you won’t like it. You’ll be tempted to be short-tempered, anxious or even prone to fall into the same sin you are trying to help the other get out of. Watch yourself, and count on your own sin showing up.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the final tools, but for now…

Let’s talk it over:

Do you like to watch home improvement shows? How does a home improvement project compare to a spiritual restoration project?
When have you experienced the help of someone else to restore you? Alternatively, how has the Lord used you in the process of restoring someone else?

Prayer:

Sovereign Lord, You see the end from the beginning, and You ordain the means. Thank You for investing in us not only to rescue us from the penalty of sin but also to restore us from the presence of sin in our lives. You do not run from big projects, for Lord Jesus You bore our sin burdens on the cross. Help us in love to bear one another’s burdens and to fulfill Your law. Amen.

Worship in Song:

My Worth is Not in What I Own

Memory Passage: Galatians 5:22–24

[22] But the _____ of the _____ is _____, ____, _______, ________, ________, _________, ___________, [23] ____________, ____________; ______ such things there is no _____. [24] And those who __________ to ______ ______ have _______ the _____ with its _________ and __________. (ESV)