The fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness

     The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 

peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22, 23. NIV

        “Gentleness”—Who comes to your mind when that word comes up? For me, I would probably say my father-in-law, Bill Spencer. He couldn’t pass a hitchhiker or a broken-down car without offering help. His name was on the church sign as being the main contact and only heaven knows how many meals and hundreds of cans of Campbells soup he gave away to the needy who called. He was always ready with a word of encouragement, and any assembly could call him even on Saturday evening, and he would graciously agree to preach the Gospel there next evening.      

        Gentleness, my dictionary tells me, is kindliness, serenity, patience, but not harshness or any kind of roughness. W.E.Vine’s Bible Dictionary suggests fairness or moderation, or even meekness; “not insisting on the letter of the law.”

        When we turn to the Scriptures for examples, probably the first is Moses. What he had to deal with, in Egypt and throughout the exodus, would push any man to the brink. But what does the Bible say? “The man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3. But there was One Who was gentler and meeker, and He says about Himself, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29. With Jesus’ yoke upon us, we can see, and experience, and learn that gentleness, and at last we can rest.