GENTLE AND HUMBLE

“Come to me … for I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus promised the kingdom of heaven to those who are “poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3). Have you struggled with trying to become more gentle, more humble, more poor in spirit?

Is Jesus saying we should have no self-esteem? Is He saying we must see ourselves as spiritual beggars, that we are not ashamed to beg for spiritual food so that we might be made rich in spirit? To see ourselves that way requires a large dose of that most elusive and rare thing called humility. Only those humble in heart (not in mere words) will ever be molded into the image of the Son of God. The “gentleness” of Jesus is the direct result of His “humility,” an important part of His character and personality. It is only a part of His character because He is not always “humble and gentle.” There are times when He appears harsh and assertive, “The lion of Judah!” (Rev 5:5).

Paul wrote that we are to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). Peter’s instructions to wives included a principle that is the same for every Christian when he spoke of the “unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (I Pet 3:4). Let us strive to BE humble and gentle, not just ACT that way.

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