Gentleness...

"Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won't be tempted also."

Galatians 6:1

As we move into gentleness, I thought it necessary to skip the defining portion and get right to a crucial issue that exists in all of us.  That issue is how we handle correction and rebuke when we are delivering it to another person.  All too often our flesh has the tendency to take over and allow us to place ourselves above where we actually belong, which then brings forth an attitude of arrogance, rather than one of blessed encouragement.  Blessed encouragement only comes from walking beside, and carrying when necessary: downward gazes are of no use here.

Paul teaches that we should approach those whom we correct or rebuke with a gentle spirit, meaning that we need to show them the love that Christ shows us when we approach the Throne.  We need to view things from a factual point, but not coldly.  We need to see the issue for what it is, but we also need to see the person for who they are... and, more importantly, Whose they are.  Our approach and course in the process of correction is what will have the largest impact (earthly impact, that is) on the final outcome.

Have you ever tried to just go face-to-face, toe-to-toe with someone over a powerful issue in their life?  Please notice, it may be a solved issue in your life, but it is not yet in theirs... that perception variance makes an ENORMOUS difference in how words are heard and understood.  It's just not the best approach to come screaming and yelling and quoting this and that to say, "You can fix this, just do it like I did!"  I am guilty of this approach, more than I care to openly admit.

To be certain, God could (and often does) send His Spirit directly down to produce immediate willingness to change, based upon the folly of one's ways.  There is almost a visible, physical change that comes forth, and people stand around asking what happened and exclaiming that they just can't believe what they've seen happen in this person.  But the subtle fact they miss is that if it were a chage by brute force, the body would have rebelled.  The mind would not have accepted a hostile takeover.  It has to be gentle, and God can be so, so very gentle with us that we fail to realize and give glory to the fact that it is Him working in us.

The opposite, however, is true for us all, as well.  The enemy is smart enough to know that he, too, must be gentle with his prodding and poking and propaganda of a "better" way to do things.  It must be almost sub-conscious in order for us not to notice that a truly hostile takeover is occurring within our very minds.  And before we go off attempting to be too gentle to others, we must first examine ourselves and see what gentleness we need from the Lord to clear our own follies.  We must first begin with God, looking upon Him; then move to ourselves, specifically, to purge and expunge the evil that lies within us as best we can; then we can share with others, through a gentle word of encouraging experience, that it can be done (whatever the immediate need is).

Many people ask to be a blessing to others, for they wish to honor God by doing good things for His Kingdom.  These people have great attitudes and great hearts and great focus.  They want the best for us all, whether seen or unseen.  Let me offer one small piece of direction for all of us, so that we may join these people and further bless those we encounter: approach them gently, as God approaches us.  Be kind, showing the joy and peace you have been given from the Father and the salvation that you KNOW is yours forever.  Have the patience to show the kind of love that needs to be shown to whomever it is you witness to, and watch as God works through you and your gentle spirit to change the hearts of those you encounter.  To borrow a piece of an old western movie phrase, I will close by asking that you do the following: walk softly, and be carried by a BIG God, and honor the Lord in doing so!

God bless you all!!!