March 17 – Galatians 5:25-6:5
Our Jesus, we praise You, for You are Salvation. You are Hope. You are Peace! We love You and want to draw near to You. Be with us as we come together to spend time with You and worship You.
I am prayerful that these daily quiet times with God have been a blessing. These bite-sized looks into this chapter have been such a good thing for me. Sometimes, I can get carried away and read and read. Meaning, I don’t stop to really ponder or examine what is what I had just read.
Today, in my quiet time, the word ‘gentleness’ jumped out at me. Reading through this passage with the mindset of the cross, gentleness seems the antonym. But really, all throughout Jesus’ trials and death, He remained gentle. Paul tells us what being gentle keeps us from, did you notice? If we remain gentle, we are also watchful, not tempted, non-boastful, encouraging, bearing each other’s burdens.
A heart of gentleness means we are in a ready state to do God’s will. We become peaceful and kind, someone who people want to be around. There are a few women in my life just like that, and I leave their presence so rested and uplifted. And I soooo wish I could be more like that, and yet, I often fail to ask for that very gentleness. And honestly, sometimes that act of gentleness is so much hard work!! But ohhhh so worth it!
What is keeping you from being gentle with yourself and others? What can you do to steer away from that which keeps you from being gentle-natured? As you ponder this, re-read Galatians 5:16-6:5 and ask God to soften your heart to be more like Him.
My Verse: Galatians 6:1b, “…Keep watch on yourself, lest you be tempted.”
My Response: Jesus, You made it seem so easy when satan tempted You in the desert. And You lived Your life seemingly untempted throughout. I want to do that just as easily. But how? I fail at every turn. Guard me, Lord, as I walk through this life with temptations that are both overt and covert. Give me the strength to not just avert my eyes but turn my whole body away from them.
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First of all, Melissa, I loved your commentary on gentleness. This line had me chuckling because YES: “And honestly, sometimes that act of gentleness is so much hard work!!” I remember 3am wake ups to a sick child, and having to work at being gentle as I cleaned up the messes they had made while still half asleep. It was, indeed, worth it to be gentle to this little one who couldn’t help being sick … but it was hard. Yes! Oh, how we need the Lord each and every moment …
My verse: Galatians 6:3 “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
My response: I remember a high-ranking army chaplain from our military days. I was so surprised one morning to see him working side by side his lowly corporal assistant hauling tables and setting up chairs for a meeting. Rank, for this good man, did not deter him from pitching in to help, sleeves rolled up and willing to sweat. I love the NLT translation here: “You are not that important.” Haha! Exactly. God is the One who deserves honor and glory. We’re His beloveds, who gladly serve. Help me, Lord, to “stay small” and honor You, who are BIG.