The Power Of Gentleness

Today's Word of Encouragement from Wayne:

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth"

2 Timothy 2:24-25

Gentleness" is much better, for all involved, than being "quarrelsome." The apostle Paul was in prison as he wrote these words to Timothy. He knew his life was drawing to a close. " The time of my departure has come" Paul declared, adding, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

Prior to his conversion, Paul had been living in a state of (self) righteous anger, persecuting the church of Christ and sharing in responsibility for the deaths of numerous believers. Now, at the end of his life, after being transformed in Christ, having begun numerous churches, leading untold thousands to faith in Jesus, and giving us a significant portion of the books of the New Testament, Paul now saw the wisdom of righteous "gentleness" as the way to effectively minister the gospel. Being "Kind" and "patient," "with gentleness;" these are the qualities Paul was admonishing his junior minister in the faith, Timothy, to pursue and possess. Why? It was all for this purpose, "if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth." When we are "ministering as a priest the gospel of God" (Romans 15:16) as we have been seeing, we understand that the message and the nature of the messenger are both important if we truly desire to see people coming to know the Lord.

Christ our Savior is "gentle" (Matthew 11:29) so it makes perfect sense that "the Lord’s bond-servant" will also be gentle. Simply put, if we want to see people receiving the truth of Christ, then this is best accomplished when the true message is ministered with the true Spirit of Christ. Never underestimate the power of kindness, patience, and gentleness in your own life to be used by God to "grant them repentance leading to knowledge of the truth." Thank You Lord that You are so kind, patient and gentle with us. May we be kind, patient and gentle with others so they may know You as even as we do. Hallelujah!