Colossians - Clothe Yourselves With Gentleness (Daily Devotional)

Greetings and welcome to Living Supernaturally. Thank you so much once again for giving us this opportunity to spend few moments in God’s word and in prayer. Colossians chapter 3, verse 12, ‘as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with gentleness.’ We encounter the word gentleness in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The Greek word used in Galatians chapter 5 for the word gentleness is ‘prautes’ which has to do with the use of power. The word gentleness is often used to capture the idea that godly people never use more force than necessary. It often signifies a character trait, characterized by mildness and tenderness. Gentleness also translates meekness which doesn’t mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility, a thankfulness towards God, a polite, restrained behavior towards others. It takes a strong person to truly be gentle. When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with easiness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is more important than our pride. ‘Come to me’, Jesus said, ‘I am gentle’. I wouldn’t dare to go to Jesus if He weren’t gentle. He is the Lord with judgement and salvation in His hands. He knows my thoughts and everything that we have done. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses because out lives and destiny are in His hands. But Paul says, if anyone is caught in trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness. It doesn’t mean to be soft that the sinner doesn’t realize he has sinned. It means to confront the brother or sister in a manner that is in line with scripture to be mild, loving and encouraging and to be clear that the holiness of God calls us to. God tells us in Isaiah that His servant, the coming Messiah will not break a bruised reed. A bruised reed is one that is bent, cracked and therefore no good for weaving into a basket or making into a paper, it is useless. So, why not why just make it and throw it away? But in Jesus’ gentle hands, none of us who are bent over by life’s difficulties are broken. A smoldering wick, He will not snuff out. What do you do with a wick that is barely burning, not giving much light anymore, not filing the room with smoke, why not blow it out and use a better candle? No matter how feeble we are or useless we may feel, Jesus never does that. Many of us can testify that Jesus has been very gentle with us. In turn, we can be gentle to one another especially with the bruised reeds and smoldering wicks around us.

Let us pray, Father, we thank you for your word and that you have called us to walk in gentleness. The Holy Spirit empowers us and we walk in authority and power but even as we do that, help us not to forget being gentle. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that reminds us, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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