Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 NIV
Gentleness
The newcomersincanada.ca website gives some good advice to people new to our country in how to communicate. It says “Canadians often use softened language to maintain politeness and avoid direct confrontation. Phrases like “Could you possibly…” or “I was wondering if…” are common and are considered a way of being respectful. To avoid misunderstandings, engage in active listening and pay attention to non-verbal body language and remember to be patient and open-minded when communicating with Canadians. They value politeness and considerate behavior in all interactions.
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We all know someone we would describe as gentle. They express love easily, are given to kind words and never seem to get highly emotional or demonstrative. People are naturally drawn to gentle people – men or women – because they bring a calm to every situation. Paul names it among the fruit of the Spirit and says this to us in Philippians 4:5: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” The fruit of the Spirit mark the life of Jesus and as the Holy Spirit molds us into the likeness of our Saviour, we act, speak, and think more and more like Him. So, Paul commands the Philippians believers, and us, to manifest gentleness in our relationship with others. He reminds us that the Lord is near – the One who provides the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is with us to produce in us this magnificent fruit. As we face pressure situations in life, we need to invite the Lord Jesus to produce in us His gentleness. What a powerful difference that will make no matter what we are facing and with whom we find ourselves today. Let your gentleness be evident to all.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley