Putting Down the Stick of Truth

Read: Philippians 4:1-9

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. (v. 5)

I must admit that I am a political junkie. I watch, read, and listen to anything I can get my hands on related to politics. The other day I watched a "dialogue" between a Christian and non-Christian commentator on a key issue. While I found myself nodding my head in agreement with almost everything the Christian was saying, I also found myself shaking my head in disgust at the way the truth was being communicated. At the end of the discussion I felt like our cause had actually been set back by the truth!

This passage speaks of an important theme: how we communicate with each other is just as important as what we communicate. This principle can be applied to marriage, parenting, friendships, and fellowship within the church. Particularly in our culture where truth has become so controversial, so fought over, this principle is critical to understand.

Gentleness is not to be confused with weakness. In fact, it communicates spiritual strength and confidence in God, who is the truth. A failure to be gentle shows immaturity and more concern in being right than in valuing the other person.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be gentle in the way I relate to others. Amen.

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