EMPOWERED Gentleness
Galatians 5:22-23a | But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We’re almost through the fruits of the Spirit! This week, to understand gentleness, let’s look straight at the most gentle person who has ever lived — Jesus, of course.
But before we do, take a minute to think about the gentleness of God… do you see God the Father as gentle or the opposite? How has God dealt gently with you? Let’s take a look at the gentleness of God in action through His Son.
In John 8, Jesus is doing something very familiar— teaching in the temple. But He is quickly interrupted.
John 8:3 | As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
This woman had done something wrong as she left her husband to be with someone else. But the Pharisees were dealing with the woman’s sin in a way that was anything but gentle. They embarrass the woman and then in verse three, they call for Jesus to have the woman stoned.
So what is Jesus’ response? He bends down next to the woman— he doesn’t leave her alone in her struggle and doesn’t add to her feelings of shame. When the Pharisees call for his judgement against the woman, Jesus —
John 8:7b-8 | …stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
The Pharisees were also sinners so they couldn’t follow through with their plan. They left one by one. When Jesus tells the woman that he doesn’t condemn her — or publicly disapprove or punish her— he shows His gentleness. There’s no long lecture, anger, shame, or consequence. He doesn’t approve of the woman’s sin; we see this in verse 11—
John 8:11b | “Go and sin no more.”
But His gentleness draws her closer to the Father instead of letting her sin drive them further apart.
Friends, you and I have sinned and made poor choices more times than we can count. Through His gentleness, God has shown us His love, forgiving us over and over again, even though we don’t deserve it.
When we let the gentleness of God shine through us, we show others God’s love, pointing them to Jesus. It’s an opportunity to help them draw closer to God instead of making them feel like they need to hide from him in shame. This week, let’s reflect the gentleness we see in the Father as we live by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:2 | Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
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Galatians 5:22-23a | But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
What is gentleness? What does gentleness make you think of?
Are you a gentle person? If not, why? If yes, in what ways?
Do you think of God as gentle? Why or why not?
Think about the character of God throughout the Bible. How does He show His gentleness?