Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.”
I love these beatitudes. They are so opposite from the world. Looking over history we see the powerful inheriting the earth. Not in God’s kingdom. I would say it’s backwards, but it’s the worlds that’s backwards.
Most seek to be powerful or to take the initiative. We want our way. Jesus’ way is different. ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me”‘, (Matthew 16:24). The world doesn’t deny itself. It denies all but themselves. That’s the path to emptiness.
Todays passage is about gentleness. While doing my internship with counseling my supervisor said I was gentle. I have never heard that. Ever. Here I was 56 years old and it never occurred to me and no one told me. God had worked that in me.
My daughter jokes with me and asks how long I would last in the old west. It leaves me stumped as I am not combative. But I know that where ever God has me, He will equip me and be my defense. So, I don’t think I would worry.
To be gentle one sees others and is sensitive how they are treated. This is partly because the gentle were hurt and they don’t want others to be ashamed or hurt.
I’ve come to know that Jesus is gentle. Isaiah 42:3 is a prophecy about Him. “A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” That is gentle. Who would have thought that the creator of the universe is gentle. He is the all powerful one. Yet gentle.
I never thought Jesus as gentle. I can recall guilt in my early christian days. Unconsciously I thought He was strict and disapproving. I had a disapproving step father. I think I got this feeling from him. It took time for that to be reprogrammed. God’s Word and good people helped. The work of the Holy Spirit was amazing. Like a surgeon He was working on my heart.
I learned to expel the judgmental thoughts. They weren’t from Him. Hebrews 5:14 gives us some insight, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.” He works in our senses so we learn to discern Him. The gentleness of Jesus is amazing.
Oh how many in the world would benefit by His gentleness. The devil has deceived them and keeps them from coming to Him. He’s deceived me. Why have I never thought to share that message? Partially because it’s not often someone is that vulnerable who opens up to that point. I feel challenged to speak of this more.
The past few years I’ve been made aware of many surprising traits of God. He is humble, He is lowly. Now I’m learning that He is gentle. He is so trustworthy. I’ve mentioned the guilt I had. It now seems so strange to see God as demanding and critical. Why didn’t I see the God of the garden, who wasn’t condemning, but trying to heal instantly. Granted, the entire healing process would take thousands of years and Jesus’ death. But God wasn’t condemning.
God’s gentleness has been a blessing. He can take the most hardened person and soften him. He disarms. When I feel judgmental thoughts I don’t accept them like I used to. Thank You, God. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You God for Your gentleness. What a blessing. Thank You for working that in me.