Such a Gentleman


We are working on teaching the boys to be gentlemen. They are being encouraged to open the door for ladies, to not burp or belch out loud, to be neat and clean and polite. It is important for us to instill in them that being a gentleman is something that is internal and external. It is good to be clean inside and out!

When we remember that gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, we can better understand that we are representing Christ in how we look, what we say and how we act and respond every day. We may not think that people are watching our behavior but we really are either bringing people closer to the knowledge of God or turning them away from Him.

Our children are watching our marriage too! How does mommy treat daddy? Is she rude and mean or is she polite and endearning? Does daddy yell and slam doors or is he patient and sweet. Are we showing love or are we being selfish? Someone is always watching our actions towards each other.
We model what we truly believe in our hearts and minds. It is one thing to say that we should be showing respect, but quite another to live it out day after day and week after week in our homes, in our workplaces and at the grocery store.

We have certainly had our share of mistakes in being gentle with each other, but today we want to give you a few more ideas to cultivate the soil in preparation to grow more gentleness.

1. Pray for the Fruit of Gentleness. This aspect is not naturally occurring. It is a fruit of the Spirit, not of the flesh. As the One who abundantly supplies all your needs for the seed of gentleness.

2. Gentle Speech. A huge part of gentleness is in the way we converse with each other. Practice not interrupting when others are speaking and learning to really listen to others. When it is necessary to bring correction, remember to do it in love!

3. Gentle Wisdom. The way we share Christ with others is important. Jesus often showed God to others by healing and doing other miracles. He fed them and loved them, then gently shared with them the truth of why He was sent. He answered their questions with the scripture and was firm against what was wrong. 

Being gentle is not being weak. It is proudly standing behind what God says!

4. Being a Gentleman/Gentlewoman. The Bible tells us that Jesus was gentle and we should follow His example. It is what differentiates His followers from others. God never coerces or forces us to follow Him. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. John got the idea when he writes that "He must become greater and I must become less" (John 3:30).

5. Repent. Our only right reaction to the sacrifice of Christ is our lives. He took our place on the cross and we owe Him as our reasonable service (Romans 12:1,2). When we know what is right to do and we do not do it, we sin . Sin separates us from God. Jesus was the perfect gentleman and our right response is gratefulness and saying "Thank you" for the rest of our lives.







Comments

  1. UnknownMay 5, 2017 at 11:30 AM

    Great read. I'm praying to have gentle speech at all times. I love the family photos.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Walking TogetherMay 5, 2017 at 5:13 PM

    Amen LaTonya! Thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete

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