I want to be like Jesus.
This morning I read one of my favorite moments of Jesus' response to His offenders just prior to His crucifixion. Being questioned by the high priest after His arrest, "one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand" (John 18:22)...
...Jesus' response:
"If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?"
John 18:23
So calm. Bound, persecuted, beaten, spat upon and ready to die...yet calm, dignified, innocent.
I want to be like Jesus.
It's not unusual for me to track through the fruit of the Spirit and ask myself which ones I need to pray about for myself as well as my family members. God is faithful to help us when we submit our lives to prayer and the fruit of His Spirit is something we will always need more of. So, once again, I've been focusing on these fruits, asking the Lord to help me each day to intentionally pray for His infusion in my life and in the lives of those I love and care for. Today I'm dwelling on gentleness.
"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:4
"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
"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 40:11
That's how I want to be...gentle like Jesus. It's interesting the dichotomy though. He may have been gentle, but no one was ever more bold. I'd like to be both like Jesus. I'd like to raise children who can be both just like Jesus. He can give us His gentleness and also boldness for His glory when we give ourselves to His doing.
So, I pour myself out (again and again) and I encourage my family to do the same
so that together and by the grace of God, we might abide in a home filled to
overflowing with LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS,
GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL. (Galatians 5:22-23)
"The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness."
Galatians 5:23
"But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children."
1 Thessalonians 2:7
Most of the great songs that glue Scripture in my head belong to my children's CDs. Gentle Like Jesus is one such example. I'm thinking this is a good one for high rotation Scripture sticking today:
