Devotion

Gentleness is a quality upon which our culture often looks with negativity. To be gentle is to be weak, a pushover, and certainly not powerful. The Scriptures understand gentleness in a different way. A person who responds with gentleness is responding from a divine place the wisdom of God. This person is not giving up an opinion or belief. The person is responding from a quiet strengthone that is more powerful than responding in anger. The following Scriptures can help us understand the power of gentleness. Growing in this gentleness is a life-long taskworthy of our endeavors and prayers! Comments about the devotion can be E-mailed to Pastor Paul at pastor@colpres.org.

Thursday, July 12 Read Matthew 11:28-30

This passage is often read as a welcome to the Communion Table. We come to Jesus and want to experience Jesus through the Spirit because of these qualities. The word that is translated as gentle in this passage is the Greek word praytes. Synonyms for this word are kind, modest, meek, and mild. Being gentle doesnt mean that any of us do not have strong opinions, are not passionate, or are not strong. In fact a person who combines the qualities of passion and gentleness will be strong. As you pray today, pray that you can be passionate and gentle at the same time. Pray that you can be patientslow to angerwhile also caring in a gentle way about the big issues of the world and your own life.

Friday, July 13 Read 2 Corinthians 10:1-5

The Apostle Paul was not always known as a meek or gentle person. He had moments when he expressed great anger in strong words. (See Galatians 3:1-5) Here he didnt appeal to his own meekness and gentleness; he appealed to the meekness and gentleness of Christ. These werent his own qualitiesthey were qualities of God that Paul wanted to copy in his own life.

Paul went on to say that he was bold when wrote his letters to the people at Corinth. He also went on to say he didnt want to act according to human standards. These standards are the opposite of being meek or gentle. Paul understood that it wasnt easy to be gentle. He also knew that he had many times and examples in his own life when he wasnt gentle. But he continued to strive for the better waythat is the way of Christ. This standard of gentleness is a high standard; its one that we will not often reach; and its one that God wants us to continue to emulate. Jesus is our example. Pray today that God can help you live according to the meekness and gentleness of Christ.

Saturday, July 14 Read Psalm 37:1-11

This Psalm is one where an older, mature person is passing on information to a younger person. Imagine a gracious grandparent giving these words of instruction to a young person. The writer of the Psalm frequently exhorted the younger person to trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord, and do good; verse 3 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act verse 5 Part of trusting in the Lord is living according to the way of the Lord. This way is the way of gentleness. The Psalmist went on to describe the negative parts of others who dont live in this way. These ways might seem worth following, but over time they will not endure. Pray for trust today!! Pray that you can also trust to live by gentleness.

Sunday, July 15 Read Numbers 12:1-9

Miriam and Aaron were very upset with Moses. He had done something in their minds which was wrong. Moses was described as the most humble person on the face of the earth. The word that is translated as humble is the same word that is translated as gentle. Even though Moses was known as humble he was also a very powerful man. He had the strength to confront Pharaoh and stand up to the complaining of the Israelites in the wilderness. But he was still gentle. He is an example of how a person can have incredible strength and be gentle.

As you pray today, pray for the gentleness and humility of Moses.

Monday, July 16 Read James 3:13-17

Some of the verses in this passage are worth committing to memory. Spend some time reading these passages and perhaps even committing them to memory: Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. James 3:13b But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. James 3:17 Gentleness is part of Gods wisdom. Often we think of wisdom as making a decision. Wisdom can also be an attitude of the heart. No matter what decision we make or what situation we find ourselves, we can respond in this way. What is causing you anxiety right now? Reflect with God about how you can respond with this gentle wisdom. Pray not only about the decision you will make, but how you will gently respond from your heart.

Tuesday, July 17 Read Galatians 6:1-5

This passage shares the way to speak the truth in love. The apostle Paul was sharing a way to respond to someone who had done something wrong. 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. Galatians 6:1-5 Speaking the truth in love is a very difficult processespecially for us shy Midwesterners. When a close family member or friend does something that we know is wrong we often make one of two mistakes. We either say nothing or we aggressively respond to the person. Paul shared another waya way of gentleness, firmness and ultimately power. Talk to the person in a spirit of gentlenessspeaking the truth in love. We can only do this with Gods help and leadership. Pray that when you see something that you know is wrong you will speak the truth in lovein a spirit of gentleness. Ask God for help to calm your own inner emotions, so that you can be an agent of Gods love.