God is Gentle
1 Kings 19:12 - "After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper" (NIV).
Isaiah 40:11 - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (NIV).
Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NIV).
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV).
2 Corinthians 10:1 - "By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you–I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away" (NIV)!
God always speaks and acts in a gentle way. His manner is not harsh or abrasive. Even in His rebuke, God restrains Himself and speaks with a gentle tone (1 Kings 19:12). Trust is often damaged in our families when harsh words are spoken or when violence breaks out. Many retreat from God assuming that He cannot be both gentle and the all-powerful Creator of the universe. In our world, the trait of gentleness is looked down upon. The gentle person gets stepped on or is over-looked. Jesus, however, displayed the meaning of true gentleness. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Possessing the authority and the restraint of the Holy Spirit will lead to gentleness. Jesus had nothing to prove. He knew He had all authority. And with that authority, He chose to act and speak with gentleness all the time.
For More Study
Thoughts and Questions for Application
Memorization
Isaiah 40:11 - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (NIV).
Isaiah 40:11 - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (NIV).
Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (NIV).
Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV).
2 Corinthians 10:1 - "By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you–I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away" (NIV)!
God always speaks and acts in a gentle way. His manner is not harsh or abrasive. Even in His rebuke, God restrains Himself and speaks with a gentle tone (1 Kings 19:12). Trust is often damaged in our families when harsh words are spoken or when violence breaks out. Many retreat from God assuming that He cannot be both gentle and the all-powerful Creator of the universe. In our world, the trait of gentleness is looked down upon. The gentle person gets stepped on or is over-looked. Jesus, however, displayed the meaning of true gentleness. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Possessing the authority and the restraint of the Holy Spirit will lead to gentleness. Jesus had nothing to prove. He knew He had all authority. And with that authority, He chose to act and speak with gentleness all the time.
For More Study
- 1 Kings 19
- Isaiah 40
- Matthew 12:15-21
- Mark 10:13-16
- John 18
Thoughts and Questions for Application
- Do you recognise the gentle voice of Jesus? Or is it easy to ignore Him?
- Read Mark 11:15-17. Is the gentleness of Jesus always displayed with a soft voice or calm actions? Perhaps, gentleness has more to do with standing for truth under the control of the Holy Spirit.
- Would you be characterised as a gentle person? What settings can bring out harshness in you?
Memorization
Isaiah 40:11 - "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (NIV).
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