Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
–Matthew 5:5
I’m thinking about two different people.
Both are solid in their faith and have a genuine love for the Lord, but one is definitely gentler than the other.
One could come to your door with a freshly baked lasagna “just because,” yet you would still feel like you’d had a visit with a drill sergeant by the time she left. Her motives are pure, but she comes off as bossy and even rude, sometimes.
However, the other woman I’m thinking of could tell you that your kids are unruly and that your reason for skipping out on church is “not a reason, but an excuse,” and you would still walk away from the conversation happy for having talked with her. She’s that gentle.
Both women truly love the Lord and have a heart for serving God and others.
However, only one of them makes a conscious effort to let her words and actions be filtered through the Holy Spirit. People are drawn to her. Her gentleness allows her to show Jesus to a lot of people. The other one may mean to, but doesn’t always do that.
We each have the potential to be both of these people. When in doubt, choose gentleness. As Jesus said in today’s verse: it has a great inheritance plan.
Prayer
Lord God, Please help me filter all I say and do through Your Spirit that lives in me. Make me gentle and humble, able to accurately reflect Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
Would people describe me as gentle? If not, what do I need to do to change that?