Be Kind and Gentle to All

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

Philippians 4:5

I recently saw the movie, Son of God.  And yes, it's worth seeing.  Man's inhumanity to man was all too evident from one scene to another, and especially so during the week of the Passion.  I was repeatedly reminded of how Jesus was always kind and gentle to all, no matter what was done or said to Him.  And more importantly how He expects you and me to do the same.  I thought, “really?”  You may be thinking, "now ain't that a mess?"

I couldn't miss how warmly and graciously Jesus embraced Judas when He knew that Judas was betraying Him with his hug and kiss. Jesus responded kindly and gently to Judas.  Shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus was greeted by the masses with shouts of "Hosanna."  A few days later, the same masses shouted "Crucify him, crucify him."  As He was being crucified, Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

How kind and gentle must one be?  How kind and gentle can one be?  When the woman who was caught in the act of adultery was brought before Him, I couldn't help but notice how kindly and gently Jesus responded both to her and all of the men with rocks in hand, prepared to stone her to death. In His soft spoken manner, He kindly and gently said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." 

I was further reminded of words often spoken by my pastor -- "life is choice driven, we live and we die by the choices we make."  I must choose to be obedient to the Word of God.  Jesus is my example, I can do as He did.  I must choose to be kind and gentle, not just to some but, to all.  Will you make the same choice?  Will you do the same?  Will you let your gentleness be evident to all?