Philippians 4:5 reads, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” (NKJV)
You know how it is when something piques your interest. You have to look deeper into it and satisfy the craving of your mind to know more. This verse caught me, and I had to devote some time to refreshing my understanding of all it means. I checked a variety of translations and studied the etymology of the word. Here’s what I discovered:
Unselfish. Considerate. Patient. Restrained. Fair and impartial. Reasonable. These are examples of gentleness. Not the first pictures that formed in your mind when you read the word, were they? Most likely, you thought of handling something tenderly and with care. I did! And while this is a part of gentleness, we must train our minds to recognize these other virtues as well.
Gentleness considers others above itself. It holds back when accused or persecuted, not lashing out in fleshly justification. Gentleness accepts the impartiality of God, that He rains on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
With God’s help, we can model this gentleness to everyone. He will use it as a sign to them of godly living. Yes, attention will be drawn to you as the salt and light of the earth as you radiate His gentleness to humanity. Allow these virtues their place in you. The Lord is coming sooner than you think, and someone in your circle needs the witness!