Lord, help us learn to practice godly gentleness…
“…a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be 1GENTLE to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and ESCAPE the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:24-26) 1ēpios: comforting, pleasing.
Gentleness is so important because some have been caught in the snare of the devil and have turned in OPPOSITION TO GOD. It is a serious matter for us to oppose god, Paul said, “…who was I to think that I could STAND IN GOD’S WAY?” (Acts 11:17) Paul (known as Saul then) was going about thinking he was doing a ministry for the Lord. The Lord stopped him on his way to hunt down and kill more Jews. Saul of Tarsus is blinded by a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Jesus blinds Saul and explains that he is in OPPOSITION to God and sends him to Damascus, where his sight is recovered and he takes up his call of now evangelization in Jesus’ name.
“Barnabas took Paul and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had PREACHED FEARLESSLY in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:27) AND AS A RESULT, “…the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it INCREASED IN NUMBERS.” (Acts 9:31) All because of the power of gentleness...
-Bill Stockham