Gentleness
Today’s Scripture Selection: Second Timothy 2:24
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
How gentle are you?
You might think the answer to that question might depend on the specific circumstances; the person or persons with which you are dealing, etc.
But, for the most part, the Bible sets the standard on another whole level.
If we are to be instruments of God’s peace – most times – we have to find that gentle part of ourselves, nurture it, and put it to good use; sometimes under very difficult circumstances.
But, with God’s help, I think most times we can do it.
The problem is we often jump right to justifying our anger; our impatience; our unwillingness to be taught – or try and gently teach – as the case may be.
The apostle Paul, in his instruction to young Timothy, said very clearly that that’s just not good enough for “the Lord’s servant.”
But I don’t think he was talking only to professional clergy.
I think we are called to do our best to patiently, humbly, and gently deal with one another.
It isn’t easy to do. But, then again, the Lord has high standards for His children.
So, take a look at the situations – the people – that need a gentle hand and heart this week. Ask God to help you with that.
And I believe the world will become just a little better – a little at a time.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be humble enough to learn to be gentle. AMEN.
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By Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
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