Gentle and powerful

Gentle and powerful

Bible: Isaiah 40:10-11

Reading

Let your gentleness be evident to all (PHILIPPIANS 4:5).

During World War II, Anne Frank and her family had to be brave to stand against the Nazi’s invasion of her home—the Netherlands. Yet Anne, writing in what became her famous Diary of a Young Girl said this: “In the
long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.” But gentleness can be a complicated thing to get our heads round as we deal with real life. In Isaiah 40 we get a picture of God that shows Him to be both gentle and powerful. In verse 11 we read: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms.” But that verse follows this: “See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm” (ISAIAH 40:10). Full of power, but gentle when it comes to protecting those in need. And think of Jesus, who made a whip and used it as He flipped over the money-changers tables in the temple . . . but who also gently cared for children. He used powerful words to reject the religious leaders (MATTHEW 23:1-39) but forgave a woman who needed His gentle mercy (JOHN 8:1-11). While there may be times to stand up for people being bullied at school and challenge anyone who is hurting others—we’re also to “let [our] gentleness be [obvious] to all” (PHILIPPIANS 4:5). As we serve God, sometimes the most powerful thing we’ll be able to do is sit quietly with our friends and classmates who are struggling and simply be with them.

GENTLENESS HELPS US MAKE A POINT

WITHOUT MAKING AN ENEMY.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries