I’ve
been enjoying Alistair Begg’s recent series on the Fruit of the Spirit on Truth
for Life, and appreciated his reminder that we cannot manufacture real fruit on
our own. It is not the fruit of self-effort, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit
working in us and with us and through us. The sermon on gentleness
in particular caught my attention as he talked about the gentleness of God and
its manifestation in the life of Christ. As I searched later, I came up with a
few relevant verses:
- “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” (Matthew 11:29).
- “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench” (Matt. 12:20a and Isaiah 42:3).
- “He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 20:11).
One
of the opportune times to exercise gentleness is in response to sin: “Brothers,
if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore
him in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1a). As I was thinking about that, it
occurred to me that sometimes it’s easier to respond to others with gentleness
than it is to be gentle with ourselves when we fail. Charles Simeon wrote,
“I have continually had such a sense of my sinfulness as would sink me into utter despair, if I had not an assured view of the sufficiency and willingness of Christ to save me to the uttermost. And at the same time I had such a sense of my acceptance through Christ as would overset my little bark, if I had no ballast at the bottom sufficient to sink a vessel of no ordinary size” (as quoted by John Piper in The Roots of Endurance, 107).
I can’t speak
for him, but I find it far easier to remember my sinfulness than God’s
forgiveness. I’ve come to think of shame as a “guilt ghost.” It is a spectre
that lingers long after the offense is forgiven. It has no real power, but it
deludes me into thinking more about my sin than my Savior. So I often need a
reminder of the gentleness that God shows to His children. His desire is to
draw us close, carry us, provide sustenance and rest, teach us, and lead us.
Yet we keep wriggling away and trying to prove our worth rather than trusting
Him.
I
like the way David Phelps phrased it in his song “Gentle Savior”
Why
can’t I walk away from my regrets,
And why is forgiveness so hard to accept?
My past surrounds me like a house I can’t afford,
But You say, “Come with Me, don’t live there anymore”
May
God gently draw our eyes back to Him each day so that we may be assured of His
love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Jesus indeed is the Good Shepherd who laid
down His life for His sheep and who continues to care for each one.
“Because you are
precious in My eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:4).
©
2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from
pixabay.com.
