Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Gentleness is a character trait that is of great value in God's sight. We read about this in 1 Peter 3:4 when Peter writes... but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. (WEB)

In one of the few places in the New Testament where Jesus describes Himself, He refers to Himself as being gentle... Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (WEB) Gentleness is also listed as being part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

King David declared to God the following words in 2 Samuel 22:36... You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. (WEB) I am so glad that God deals with us in His gentleness. If He treated us like we deserved, we would definitely be in trouble... But He doesn't.

I believe that 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes the gentleness of the Lord and how He treats us when Paul writes... 4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (WEB)

My prayer today is that we would radiate the same gentleness to those around us, that God shows to us. May we be known as a gentle people who are patient and kind and tender-hearted so we will be just like our big brother!