50 Days of Wisdom

Paul tells us that Christians are supposed to walk worthy. We're to match up our living with our doctrine. And then he tells us how, "in all humility and gentleness." So, the first attitude for all Christians is humility, which comes from an honest evaluation of yourself and your unworthiness and a true vision of Christ and of God. And the purer your vision of yourself and your Lord and God, the more useful you become. Now, what is gentleness? It means meek, mild, or gentle. It's gentle-heartedness. On the negative side, that means no spirit of revenge, retaliation, vindictiveness, bitterness, hostile anger, or angry assertions. It's gentleness, and it's a godly virtue. We saw it in Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek," or the gentle. We see it in Galatians 5:23, where it appears as part of the fruit of the Spirit: "gentleness." We see it in 1 Timothy 6:11 as a virtue of a man of God who is marked by his gentleness. But some people see gentleness as a weakness. How can you be a strong leader and be gentle? Well, you can if you understand this term. And one of the best ways to understand gentleness is to see it defined as power under control. It doesn't refer to impotence or lack of power or courage. It's a byproduct of humility. If you're a humble person, you may have immense power, capabilities, and competencies. You may be a force. But if you are humble, all of a sudden, you're transformed into someone who's gentle because this is a product of self-humiliation and of self-emptying. This is the product of a broken will. Therefore, it doesn't mean weak, impotent, or cowardly. What it means is that your powers, which are formidable in Christ, are under the control of the will of God and the Holy Spirit. Gentleness means you have self-control. So, if you're looking for an illustration of what gentleness and humility look like, look no further than Jesus. Was He weak, cowardly, or short on convictions? No. But the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:1 that we need to follow the meekness and gentleness of Christ. How is this possible: to be both meek and such a force against evil? And the answer is this: that Jesus never wielded His power to defend Himself. He wielded His power to defend His Father, His Father's reputation, and His Father's house. And He is our model of what meekness looks like: You defend God, His kingdom, and His truth; you don't defend yourself. That's the power that's under control. Meekness is that power under control, used only at the right time, on the right occasion, for the right length, and for the right cause. This is a virtue that goes right along with humility. Therefore, follow the pattern of Christ. Do you experience that kind of control? Is your anger controlled? Is your self-defense common, or do you save your anger for holy things, righteous indignation? Are you provoked only when God or His Word is dishonored? Do you always seek to make peace, no trouble, no gossip, just forgiveness, and restoration? Do you respond to the Word humbly and meekly? Do you love the people who disagree with you? This is power under control. And the final question is: Do you rise to defend your Savior, your God, and His truth? Because that's when you should express that power. A meek person is not proud of themselves, has nothing of which to boast, demands nothing, and is not self-protective, self-defensive, or self-pitying. It's to be finished with yourself altogether. Gentleness is the twin of humility. Repent and believe! GTY.org (49-16) – The Strength of Gentleness

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1017

September 2, 2026

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My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!