Gentleness, the fifth fruit of the Spirit, is one of the most beautiful and important characteristics of believers in Jesus Christ. In a day when the world charges Christians with being intolerant, narrow-minded, and discriminatory, Holy Spirit-worked gentleness will open opportunities for gospel proclamation. The word Paul used for gentleness can also be translated as “kindness”, “merciful love,” and “care.” The word in the original refers to having a tender attitude and outlook towards others, showing a sweet, caring and courteous disposition and regard towards others. This gentleness our text speaks of is about being graciously and truthfully accommodating to others, approachable and friendly, pleasant and helpful and encouraging whenever and wherever you can be without compromise to the truths of God in any way. It has also been described as Christian sweetness of temper, gracious reasonableness, and holy hearty big-heartedness. It is showing humble genuine loving-kindness in the way we relate to others.

The gentle person is someone you would feel comfortable speaking with about things that are troubling you in your life – someone you would feel comfortable sharing your struggles in your Christian walk with. The gentle person is not going to be abrasive, dismissive, and prickly. He is someone who can be tender, warm, and nurturing.

No matter your age, the call of the text and the needs of others require your gentleness. Is there a welcoming and nurturing disposition about you? When others think of you, do they view you as someone who can tenderly shepherd them through their struggles? Or are you someone they think of and say: “There’s no way I’m going to speak to her about that! He has all of the gentleness and grace of a chainsaw!”

Gentleness is not only listed among the fruit of the Spirit; there are many other texts of Scripture which call Christians to gentleness. In Philippians 4:5 we read: “Let your moderation (your gentleness) be shown unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” We could amplify the text this way: Let your Christian friendliness, gracious reasonableness and kind yielding to others be shown to all men. Gentleness is one of the main aspects of practical Christianity. In James 3:17 we read,

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Gentleness does not mean being soft on sin, as the world would prefer Christians to be, but gentleness seeks the best, most loving way to speak the truth. The gentle believer will take pains not to add any additional offense to the gospel.

As a motivation to gentleness, consider how God reveals Himself as a gentle God. Even in confronting and punishing the sin of Adam and Eve, the Lord came with a remedy of clothing and the remedy of the gospel. Unlike the heathen gods, the Lord did not require human sacrifices; He only asked for the deaths of animals. Though the covenant people repeatedly sinned, the Lord acted in kindness, grace, and longsuffering before His just judgments fell.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the embodiment of God’s gentleness. Isaiah 66:13 gives one of the most beautiful, loving, tender descriptions of the Lord;

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

We also read in Psalm 103:13:

Like as a father pitied his children, so the LORD pitied them that fear him.

God’s gentleness and kindness shown to His people infinitely exceeds even the most caring and tender love of the best father and mother one could have in this life. Additionally, Jesus is described as the Lamb of God in His saving work; only to His enemies is He a lion. The Holy Spirit is revealed in the form of a dove, the symbol of peace, not a hawk or eagle. The triune God is the God of gentleness, grace, and kindness for all who seek salvation with Him. To sin against God is to sin against His goodness and kindness (Romans 2:4). For those who plead for His mercy, the Lord shows Himself to be kind and gentle, but to those who continue in sin, the Lord will show severity (Romans 11:22).

But where does this fruit of gentleness come from? It comes from being connected to Jesus Christ by faith and being indwelt by the tender Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit teaches us of the kindness of God in salvation and this will certainly spill over into kindness to all the people God brings into our lives. This is His plan, and it will prevail.