"Since God has chosen you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patients."
(CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS POST)
(BACKGROUND REFLECTION IN PREVIOUS POST)
Reflection:
I started thinking about what to write for the second part of this devotional, and realized I didn't quite have the reflection that I had for the compassion part of the verse. Kind. Gentle. Humble. Patient. These are words we all know, and I'd be insulting everyone's intelligence if I tried to explain what these words mean. So instead I put the words with some select verses....
"Kindness" (kind)
1. of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: akind and loving person.
Proverbs 11:17 - Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
Ephesians 4:32 - . . . be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, or proud or rude.
"Humility" (humble)
1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
James 4:6 - "God opposes the proud but favors the humble"
Proverbs 3:34 - The Lord mocks the mockers, but is gracious to the humble.
"Gentleness" (gentle)
Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare
Philippians 4:5 - Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
"Patience" (patient)
bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship,pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger,or the like.
Romans 12:12 - Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer
These words are fairly common knowledge. We all know how we are supposed to act to be in accordance with these words. Kindness. Treat people with respect, listen to them, respond with compassion, care about them. Humble. Don't be overly proud, don't be a showoff, don't do things to be in the spotlight, be modest and kind. Gentle. Don't be aggressive, angry, don't stir things up, be kind, compassionate. Patient. Don't overreact, think before you act, be kind, be gentle.
Notice how these words are all connected with each other.
Final Thought:
It's easy to say these things. The true test comes in actually doing these things. It's easy to be kind to one of your friends, or a nice person you see in the store. But are you kind when interacting with someone you are on bad terms with, or someone you dislike? When you are in disagreement with someone, are you gentle? Or are you highly aggressive, or confrontational? Are you humble when something good comes your way? Or do you go advertise your good fortunes? Your blessings? Do you make sure someone you are in competition with knows about your success? Are you patient with others, particularly people you may not be the best of friends with? Or are you quick to write someone off? Are you patient in letting God take whatever time he deems proper to answer your prayers? Or do you get impatient when you don't get immediate results, or don't get the results you want?
I know in answering these assessments honestly, that I pass some of the tests and fail at others. I do fairly well with the humble part, but struggle mightily with the patience part. Learning patience in prayer in particular has been something I am battling heavily in the last month. Evaluating myself under this verse however, will help me in improving myself on these areas in the future.
The Bible is filled with verses encouraging us to act as this verse directs us too. There is no one who can question the importance to be kind, to be gentle, compassionate, humble, patient. Assess yourself honestly under this verse, and see where your strengths and weaknesses are; and seek the guidance you need to turn the weaknesses into strength, allowing yourself to shine that much more under God's glory.
2.
having, showing, or proceeding from benevolence: kind words.
3.
indulgent, considerate, or helpful; humane (often followed by to): to be kind to animals.
4.
mild; gentle; clement: kind weather.
Proverbs 11:17 - Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
Ephesians 4:32 - . . . be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful, or proud or rude.
"Humility" (humble)
1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
2.
having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.:In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.
courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.
James 4:6 - "God opposes the proud but favors the humble"
Proverbs 3:34 - The Lord mocks the mockers, but is gracious to the humble.
"Gentleness" (gentle)
kindly; amiable: a gentle manner.
2.
not severe, rough, or violent; mild: a gentle wind; a gentle tap onthe shoulder.
3.
moderate: gentle heat.
Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare
Philippians 4:5 - Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.
"Patience" (patient)
bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship,pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger,or the like.
Romans 12:12 - Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer
These words are fairly common knowledge. We all know how we are supposed to act to be in accordance with these words. Kindness. Treat people with respect, listen to them, respond with compassion, care about them. Humble. Don't be overly proud, don't be a showoff, don't do things to be in the spotlight, be modest and kind. Gentle. Don't be aggressive, angry, don't stir things up, be kind, compassionate. Patient. Don't overreact, think before you act, be kind, be gentle.
Notice how these words are all connected with each other.
Final Thought:
It's easy to say these things. The true test comes in actually doing these things. It's easy to be kind to one of your friends, or a nice person you see in the store. But are you kind when interacting with someone you are on bad terms with, or someone you dislike? When you are in disagreement with someone, are you gentle? Or are you highly aggressive, or confrontational? Are you humble when something good comes your way? Or do you go advertise your good fortunes? Your blessings? Do you make sure someone you are in competition with knows about your success? Are you patient with others, particularly people you may not be the best of friends with? Or are you quick to write someone off? Are you patient in letting God take whatever time he deems proper to answer your prayers? Or do you get impatient when you don't get immediate results, or don't get the results you want?
I know in answering these assessments honestly, that I pass some of the tests and fail at others. I do fairly well with the humble part, but struggle mightily with the patience part. Learning patience in prayer in particular has been something I am battling heavily in the last month. Evaluating myself under this verse however, will help me in improving myself on these areas in the future.
The Bible is filled with verses encouraging us to act as this verse directs us too. There is no one who can question the importance to be kind, to be gentle, compassionate, humble, patient. Assess yourself honestly under this verse, and see where your strengths and weaknesses are; and seek the guidance you need to turn the weaknesses into strength, allowing yourself to shine that much more under God's glory.
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