September 13, 2016 – Proverbs 15:1-2

A gentle answer deflects anger but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1

What makes a person gentle when giving an answer?  If it seems difficult or impossible to do — read these words…Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.  I Timothy 6:11b  Read them again aloud and measure each word.  Pursue is chasing after and not sitting in a hammock waiting for these qualities to magically become a part of us.

What are these qualities?  Often a song begins slowly and softly and builds into loud crescendo with a faster beat making our hearts beat more rapidly.  This is the way we pursue a righteous and godly life and we end with gentleness.  For gentleness to exist in our hearts, there must be faith in God, love as God loves, never losing the will to chase after righteousness and then comes gentleness.

It takes love and caring to be gentle.  It takes humility to see someone’s need and care enough to spring into action.  Being gentle is a God-given strength.  We come into this world as helpless babes.  There is nothing as sweet as the gentleness of a mother as she cares for her new baby.

When we are concerned about others, we do not speak harshly to them, but gently.  We are not defensive, trying to shift blame on someone else.  Angry words answered in a gentle manner produce change and God smiles.

The Lord is watching us.  There is nothing we can hide from God.  O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  Psalm 139:1-2, 5-6

The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.  Proverbs 15:3