Daily Devotion: A Gentle Spirit

Scripture:
Philippians 4: 4-9

Main Verse:
Philippians 4: 5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Observation:
I have lived for more than a decade here in Korea, but one cultural norm that I still find offensive and irritating, for me, at least, is the pushing and shoving that happens on subways and on the streets, especially during rush hours. Some people are not sensitive to being physically touched, but I am, and I find the bumping, pushing, and elbowing an invasion of my private space. There were MANY times I wanted to shove them back, but I chose to remain calm and composed, lest I ruin my entire day. It is hard to be kind and gentle when a part of your being is disturbed or bothered, but as Paul instructed in v.5, we should try to be gentle to everyone. We are not instructed to be kind and amiable only to those who we like. We are asked to be tender and gracious to everyone, even to that neighbor you despise, or that seatmate you dislike, or the person who shoved you on your way to work.

Application:
What does being gentle mean? In the dictionary, being gentle means "kind and careful in the way you behave or do things, so that you do not hurt or damage anyone or anything." As Christians, we need to exercise a mild temperament at all times, and show Christlike consideration for others. We need to be calm even when a situation makes us feel upset or a person annoys us. It is hard to be gentle and to speak politely when someone is inconsiderate toward you, but let us remember that our lives are always scrutinized by the people around us. And even when you don't personally know the people who upset you, we should always be led by a gentle spirit, not a hostile one.

Prayer:
Father, I admit that there are times when I feel easily irritated and angry. Forgive me, Lord, for not being gentle when I need to. May I learn to be more empathetic and understanding of others. May I be kind and amiable in my dealings with everyone. Teach me to be more warmhearted, like Your Son, Jesus. AMEN.