He Has You

I don’t often write about my wife Mary, but if I am going to write about being gentle, it is Mary of whom is the gentlest person I have ever known. I met Mary when I was a young man, and a few months later we were married. In all the years I have been with her, she has never raised her voice to me.

Gentle words flow from gentle souls. “Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near” (Philippians 4:5 TPT).

For many years I watched Mary with how she treated our children. She always treated them with gentleness and kindness, showing them respect and honor. And here, many years later, I watch her be just as gentle and loving to our granddaughters that she cares for during the week.

Worldly beauty is measured from the outside going in. Heavenly beauty is measured from the inside going out. “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on jewelry, or beautiful clothes, or hair arrangement. Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so precious to God” (1 Peter 3:3-4 TLB).

I am most certain that I am not nearly as gentle as Mary is, but I long to be. I want to have a changed heart with how I treat others around me. I want to speak to people with respect and kindness, being gentle with every word that I would say. I even want to think with gentle thoughts.

Nobody is judged by their knowledge, but how they treat others. “But you, O man of God…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11 NKJV).

We can all be changed by God because He is able to do it. The only requirement for it to happen is that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then we would yield to His leading. It’s not enough that the Spirit fills us, but we must be yielded over to Him.

Your most powerful display of Christ in you is in your gentleness. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield…” (James 3:17 NKJV).

If you are holy, then you will be gentle. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12 CJB).

We often have such distorted ideas on what it means to walk in the power of God. We think there must be some great deliverance or healing, as if those were the only things that mattered to God. But what is the greatest miracle on earth is to have one’s heart changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The more that Christ reigns in us, the more that Christ can reach others through us. “Remind them to be …peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2 NKJV).

We think we must try harder that we could have the fruit of the Spirit flourishing in our lives. But the fruit is of the Spirit, not of ourselves, and the only thing we can do to promote it is to be yielded over to the Spirit that He could then make it happen.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is measured by the fruit that flows out. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control….” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

We sometimes write off the instructions of God’s Word by justifying the way we are by saying that is just how we were made. That is nonsense! You may have issues, but God has solutions. You were not saved by Christ to remain as you were but to be made into something new.

We hurt the Lord when we walk beneath our calling. “…lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Ephesians 4:1-2 NLT).

The more clearly you see yourself, the less critical you’ll be of others. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT).

When we are gentle to others, we will have greater influence in their lives. It may be your gentleness to another soul that turns them around and gives them that hope they were desperately looking for. You can be gentler, and God can help you get there.

Never underestimate the power in a kind word, a gentle smile, and a warm hug. “And a servant of the Lord must…be gentle to all…” (2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV).

If you want to preach on the gentleness of Christ, then you must be gentle in your preaching. “…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 ESV).

Blessings to you,

Paul Balius

The picture that went with this blog is of my wife Mary many years ago with our youngest daughter. It is moments captured like this that reflect the gentleness and love that God longs for His children to show to each other. My prayer is that you would be that gentle soul to someone who so desperately needs it.