Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Injured

A giant gorilla can be gentle. However, when visiting the zoo, I have heard it roar and seen it beat its chest when injured. Christians, too, are often gentle until injured by others, including other believers. When we’re hurt, we want to roar and say, “I’ve got to stand for my rights. I’m not going to let that person push me around. I’m going to think of myself first.”

Here are some good verses to keep in mind when we feel that way:

• “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men” (2 Timothy 2:24).

•“Speak evil of no man … but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2).

•“The wisdom that is from above is … gentle” (James 3:17)

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the new believers at Thessalonica, he reminded them, “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

Remember too, “The fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness” (Galatians 5:22).