SEPTEMBER 13
GENTLE TOWARDS ALL
2 Timothy 2:24-26
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will. (WEB)
Paul's advice for Timothy on how to handle people who oppose him is to be gentle with them. This reminds me of Proverbs 15:1, which says... A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (WEB)
Often, when we face opposition, our natural instinct is to respond in the same way. If someone is angry with us, we react with anger. If they are controlling, we tend to push them away. But what might it look like if we responded with gentleness in every confrontational situation?
While we can't control how the other person might react, it could significantly reduce our stress. What if the next time you are treated rudely by a store clerk, you responded with a gentle smile or a reassuring word? What would happen if, the next time a disgruntled co-worker says something sarcastic to you, you respond with a sincere compliment?
I am not saying that it is easy. I have had my share of responses in kind over the years. But my prayer is that I would become more and more like my Elder Brother in every way, who is, in turn, the exact image of our Heavenly Father. I am so thankful that God does not respond to us the way that we treat Him. He always responds with love, yet He doesn't give us what we deserve.
Luke 6:36
Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. (WEB)
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will. (WEB)
Paul's advice for Timothy on how to handle people who oppose him is to be gentle with them. This reminds me of Proverbs 15:1, which says... A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (WEB)
Often, when we face opposition, our natural instinct is to respond in the same way. If someone is angry with us, we react with anger. If they are controlling, we tend to push them away. But what might it look like if we responded with gentleness in every confrontational situation?
While we can't control how the other person might react, it could significantly reduce our stress. What if the next time you are treated rudely by a store clerk, you responded with a gentle smile or a reassuring word? What would happen if, the next time a disgruntled co-worker says something sarcastic to you, you respond with a sincere compliment?
I am not saying that it is easy. I have had my share of responses in kind over the years. But my prayer is that I would become more and more like my Elder Brother in every way, who is, in turn, the exact image of our Heavenly Father. I am so thankful that God does not respond to us the way that we treat Him. He always responds with love, yet He doesn't give us what we deserve.
Luke 6:36
Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. (WEB)