Philippians 4:5

“Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.”

One of my favorite things about the Kingdom of God is how wonderfully different it is than anything else.  If you want to save your life…lose it.  If you want to be great…be a servant.  Someone hates you…pray for them.  In the eyes of the world, the priorities of the Kingdom of God must look totally bonkers!

There is no chapter in the latest leadership book that highlights gentleness.  In the eyes of the world, gentleness begins and ends with our mother, toilet paper, and the bedside manner of our doctor – that’s it.  Anywhere else, gentleness is a sign of weakness – something to be eradicated, not applauded.

So let’s look at gentleness for a moment.  Gentleness can also be translated as “meekness”; which doesn’t sound much better. “Meek as a mouse” is a common phrase that comes to mind.  Scared, timid, hiding in the corner – that is often how we think about meekness.  But the definition of meekness is “Might restrained”.  That is a very different picture.

To keep with our mouse illustration: the true picture of meekness is not a mouse, but a lion choosing to act like a mouse.  The lion is big and powerful, but is choosing to restrain its might so that it can be gentle.  Or more visibly, I saw this picture yesterday:

 

And I don’t think the lion is just checking to see if the fawn needs more salt.  This male lion (not know for gentleness and compassion) is restraining his natural tendencies to care for this tiny, fragile creature.  That is meekness.  Meekness is not weakness; it is restrained power for the benefit of another.

I have read this passage dozens of times.  But today is the first time I really noticed the second sentence, “For the Lord is near.”  Why does the Lord being near encourage us to be gentle?  I think for a couple of reasons:

1. The Lord is near: He is gentle with us so we should be gentle with others.
2. The Lord is near: He sees all that we do, so we need to be about His business.
3. The Lord is near: He will empower us to be gentle with others.

I like number three the best.  We can be gentle and caring for others because God give us the strength to do so.  Be kind and thoughtful to all you meet.  Consider others more important than yourself.  Forgive readily and be at peace with everyone.  God is near to encourage and empower you to live like Jesus.  Let you gentleness be evident to everyone! 

“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” – William Booth