Gentleness

I am continuing with my study of the Fruit of the Spirit.  Today, I wanted to talk about "gentleness".  The reference of gentleness in Galatians 5:22 is define in the Greek Lexicon as "moral goodness, integrity, benignity, kindness".   The Merriam-Webster defines it as "having or showing a kind and quiet nature : not harsh or violent".   With those definitions in mind, I set out to look up some scriptures about being gentle.

The Greek Lexicon defined gentleness as integrity.  Integrity is conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong, which is the same as moral goodness.  Integrity is when we strive to be holy in all manner of conversation, as it mentions in 1 Peter 1:15-16.  The KJV says, "  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."  The word "conversation", in this verse,  is translated from the word that involves everything that we do.  The way we act, speak and dress.  When we strive to have gentleness, it will show in our obedience to the Word of God on how we should conduct ourselves.  When our relationship with God is on the right track, our relationship with others will be also.   

The Greek Lexicon also defined gentleness as benignity or kindness.  As a verb, to be benign is to show kindness and to be gracious.  But I also found it interesting that at a noun, it means not cancerous or not causing injury or harm.  To show kindness and graciousness means that we will not say or do anything that will cause harm or injury to another person.  When we have an "cancerous attitude", it can spread and effect not only our hearts and minds but it infects others also.  Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."   We need to get rid of things bitterness, wrath (resentment), anger, clamour (violent shouting), malice (meanness) and evil speaking.  They are like cancer.  If they are not dealt with, they will slowly spread and eventually kill you, spiritually.  But when we show kindness and are tenderhearted and forgiving we will be blessed abundantly.

Blessing comes into our lives when we obey the Word of God.  Here are some scriptures on gentleness, kindness and integrity.  

Titus 3:2, "To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."

Colossians 3:12-13, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved , bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Proverbs 11:3, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them."

Proverbs 20:7, "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."

2 Peter 1:4-8, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound , they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."