I asked myself the significance of verse 5?
I found verse 5 so profound because the Apostle Paul is writing after he has been roughed up in prison, whipped with lashes, and shackled in chains. Yet, he writes to the Philippians to tell them to let their gentleness be evident to all.

What stuck out to me is ‘evident to all’. He is not telling them just to let their gentleness be evident to those whom they know or those who treat them well but everyone who comes across them. Wow! He wants everyone to notice their gentleness.

I asked myself how can Paul be talking about gentleness after what he has been put through?
For me the answer became evident when Paul stated, “The Lord is near.”

No matter what they are facing, he wanted them to be gentle knowing the Lord is at hand to help them. He wanted them to be an example of Christ to those around them and leave the judgment to the Lord.

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself what are the important implications for my own life?
It is not anything great for me to be gentle with those who are gentle with me. Anybody can do that. I need to be gentle with everyone especially those who irritate me, annoy me, and give me pain even if I do not want to! Yup, I have faced all those things and sometimes still face them. I need to remember that my actions will reflect how people who know me as a Christian will view Jesus Christ. If my attitude is the way Jesus wants me to be, that will be evident to all and the credit will go to Jesus and not to me.

Today, when I was reading Proverbs 20, Proverbs 20:22 stood out: 'Don't repay evil for evil. Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.'

I want my actions to reflect the credit going to Jesus Christ. I need to be focused on the Lord knowing He is at hand no matter what I am facing.

When, I was pursuing Chandraleela, I saw her as the most gentle person with lots of love in the relationship. She would be so gentle to me even when I was in the wrong many times. After marriage, it has continued majority of the time with my sweet, gentle wife Leela. She cares for me so much. I told my wife that I want others who she comes across too such as her brothers-in-law, her mother-in-law, brothers and sisters from church, etc always see her as the gentle person she is.

There have been days I asked myself, 'Lord, what did I do to get such a P.L.U.S wife: Prayerful, Loving, Understanding, and Supportive?' Then, everytime I realize it is all Lord's grace, mercy, and blessings. How true that is! Today, while reading Psalm 111, I came across Psalm 111:4 which says, "Who can forget the wonders he performs--deeds of mercy and of grace?"

I told Chandra a story about myself when I was young. When I became a follower of Christ, and was leaving one school for another, a person wrote, "Ramesh, you are someone I know who does not have even a hate bone in his body". I gave the credit to Jesus because it is all about Him and not me.

Unfortunately, that statement cannot describe my whole life as a Christian because I have hated and not let my life be governed by the love of Jesus all the time. Through hate, I have not always been gentle. 

One time my mom remarked to me and asked me, 'Ramesh, what ever happened to the Ramesh who never had a hate bone in his body'. But, I can say gentleness was not evident to all because of my selfishness walking in the lust of the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit.  I tried to justify my hate but there is no justification for hate or for not exhibiting the quality of gentleness. It is so easy to say, 'If that person were not like that or did that to me, I would not behave this way, it is that person's fault'

Did Paul say that after being whipped, scrouged, and thrown in jail where he writes Philippians from?

 No! Instead Paul writes, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near!" (Philippians 4:5, TLB)

While growing up, no matter how rebellious I was, my mommy would always show gentleness even when I was in the wrong. 

Now in marriage and with two young daughters Esther and Evangeline, I wish I could say that my gentleness is evident to all. But, alas, I cannot say that always. My daughters say to me at times: 'Daddy, you are a meany'. I know it is because of my strictness in parenting but even then I could be showing gentleness when they make mistakes. Lord Jesus, please help me.

 I remember a time recently when Pastor Josh told me your wife Chandra is a very gentle person I know. He was exhorting me to be gentle with her, take care of her and always listen, listen, listen to your wife. Pastor Josh knew with his interactions with me that I can be very stubborn and rigid at times. He did not want me to take that to the marriage setting at home. I need Lord's help to always listen and be gentle. It can be a challenge for both of us to be gentle all the time. We need the Lord's help.

I want my wife and I to always maintain gentleness with those around us. My prayer is both of us will display gentleness to those around us as we let the Fruit of the Spirit work in us. It is easier said than done so we need the Lord's help a lot especially in areas we struggle with forgiveness and reconciliation.

Yesterday, I was so thankful, our Pastor Josh invited Pastor Hugo who was the former pastor of our congregation for 17 years to speak on faith, love, and hope amidst the crisis of COVID-19 through YouTube Live. The sermon from 1 Thess 1:3 was very convicting for me. Pastor Hugo reminded us that during this virus our lives need to more than ever show the gentleness of Christ through our actions demonstrating our faith in Jesus, love for Jesus, and hope in Jesus. He was reminding us that our good works will be produced by faith in Jesus. Our labor of love will be because of our faith in Jesus. Our hope will be because of Jesus. I was touched by the examples he shared about his mentors showing gentleness to others amidst this virus.

In one example of gentleness, he shared about a family whose been cooking all day to provide meals for students and scholars away from home. In another example, he shared about a family inviting a convict who served 20 years in prison to come and live with them. These things were done because they lived out their faith in Christ through their labor of love as they put their hope in Christ alone.

As I have struggled with forgiveness and reconciliation, I was so touched and impressed how painstakingly Pastor Hugo had responded two days ago to every single question I had written to him two weeks ago. I want my gentleness to be evident to all and that can only truly happen in my life through forgiveness with the Lord Jesus' help. I don't want it to stop there but I want my gentleness to be shown through reconciliation too. I need the Lord's help in both areas. As I reflected on gentleness today, I was reminded  no matter how wrong I was in different situations, through the years how much Pastor Hugo  would show his gentleness to me and let me realize my own mistakes without being judgmental but showing a gentle spirit as he continued to mentor and disciple me. Thank you so much Jesus. Now Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, and Pastor Bucknell want to do the same when I meet with them.

I am so convicted of Paul exhorting the Philippians to show gentleness that will be evident to all that they are followers of Christ. I want to do that too even when people are mean to me and I am hurt badly. I cannot do that on my own because only the Fruit of the Spirit will give me that gentleness. Help me Jesus. Others can then see our gentleness daily only when Christ works in us. It can happen because of our dependence on the Lord Jesus to help us show gentleness towards anyone. It is a measure of gentleness given to me by the Lord. Thank you Jesus!

I ask you now dear friend what measure of G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S do you have?
Dear friend, take it from me it is not easy being gentle especially when we are wronged and hurt. I know because I have been there and no matter what I did, I still felt isolated and hurt. This made me angry and resentful but what happened to me is nothing compared to what happened to Paul. Regardless, I am touched how Paul is able to talk about gentleness in his confinement. I do not know how much gentleness is evident to others from your life but it can be evident friend. All you need is Jesus and remembering no matter what you are faced with, the Lord is at hand.

I was so blessed to read Psalm 27 and mediate on few of the verses!

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation! (Psalm 27:1, TLB)

"Don't be impatient. Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous! For the Lord will help you!" (Psalm 27)

It can be easy to be impatient with others especially when they are not gentle but the awesome thing is that we can be gentle because of the Lord. What we go through is nothing compared to what Paul went through and yet he spoke about rejoicing in the Lord and gentleness. He wanted it to be evident to all and not just those who treat you well.  I am convicted to do my part. May you do your part to no matter what you face.

Nothing happens without the Lord’s knowledge and He can change any situation around. I don’t know why some things are not changed right now but I am going to wait on the Lord, ‘for they that wait upon the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint’ as stated in Isaiah 40:31.

Today, I also learned from Proverbs 20:24: "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens alonng the way!"

Maybe stuff happened to you that the pain is too much to bear and the last thing you want to be is gentle towards people. The Lord sees your pain friend. Stuff happened to me in the past that I wanted to isolate myself and even lash out. In a way I acted cold but it did not help anybody including myself. It only allowed bitterness to build on the inside and have ‘them against me’ attitude!

What gives me console is that the Lord is at hand and near no matter what we are facing. He can give us the strength to endure and if the Lord wants our gentleness to be evident to all, there is a reason. I cannot question that but faithfully pray and act that way depending on my Lord Jesus Christ! When you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, He will give you the spirit of gentleness for the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23, TLB)

How true this is because Angela Yuan shared a testimony of how her gentleness and constant prayer for 8 years + for her son Christopher Yuan brought him to Christ even though he was living a gay life. Christ changed his heart and he shared a powerful testimony at Oakland International Fellowship where the gentleness and love of his mom is what brought him to Christ and changed him.

May your gentleness flow in people’s lives as you turn to the Lord at hand! Amen!

"Gentleness Enters Noticeably Through Lord’s Empowerment, Now Enabling Seeking Saints! (G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S)/”What measure of G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S do you have?”

PRAYER: 
Jesus, as I read your Word, I learn the importance of gentleness. I am also reminded that it is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. I want to exhibit gentleness to everyone around me especially when things don’t go my way. I cannot do it on my own for my flesh takes over when I am upset and don’t turn to you. Help me Jesus to seek you always and let my gentleness be evident to all including those that have hurt me. Please Lord for that is the attitude you want us to have. It is hard but you say it in your Word and I want to obey. Help us Lord in our lives to exhibit that gentleness so that others can see your love in us and come to you. May we be your instruments of peace and sow love where there is hatred, peace where there is discord as St. Francis of Assisi once prayed. Thank you Lord you are at hand and we can know we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You know what happens to us so help us to hold on to you and trust you even when we don’t understand. Please Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you Jesus for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

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