Gentleness (The Fruit of the Spirit in You)

Gentleness                                                                              Day 85

⁴ . . . Love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 
⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own . . .

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

On average, there are more mirrors in a home than there are bibles. In fact, most people spend more time looking into mirrors each day than spending time in fellowship with God. While this reality may reveal the emphasis our culture places on appearances and de-emphasizes God, it too may reflect the emphasis we place on “I” and “me.” When it comes to loving others, however, we must learn to lessen the emphasis on “us” and increase the emphasis on “how” God would have us love others. We should love with a humble and pure heart.

Pure love does not seek its own or focus attention on itself. Loving others with a humble heart requires that we separate our personal desires from the blessings of others. This love is expressed as a verb, just like the act of feeding.

Someone feeding a child or weaker adult is not envious of what is being eaten. The goal is simply to assure that the other person receives the food. Likewise, let us love without concern for our own increase. Instead of being rude or envious because someone else receives a blessing (healing, house, position, spouse, child, etc.) that we also desire, let us be satisfied with knowing that he or she has been blessed.

Let us learn to love without the focus always being on us. Let us focus on the love of Christ. He loved us so much that He gave up His life that we might receive the great gift of eternal life.

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