2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Thursday, October 8
Philippians 4:1-7
1 My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“… 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. …”
I read an article some time ago that suggested we treat others like we do our pets. Typically, in addition to feeding, giving them water, taking them for walks (dogs), changing the litter (cats), changing the water (fish), etc., we treat them with tenderness and affection. The author suggested we treat other people like we treat our pets.
While that analogy has its limits, it does remind us that gentleness is a hallmark of Christian living. Taking the time to listen to your neighbor who is telling you about the same issues they told you about last week shows care and concern. Responding to angry words with calmness and peace reveals an inner, Spirit-given, repose. Treating others the way you would like to be treated is a good rule of thumb.
Paul reminds the Philippians that gentleness is a key to life in Christ. It is one of the spiritual gifts given to God’s people to help them live in the world. It’s not always easy to respond to others with gentleness. However, when practiced, it often leads to a greater ability to communicate with even the most difficult person. It also helps build relationships with those who are strangers to us and reinforces the relationships with the people already in our personal and public communities.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you showed us the way of tenderness and compassion for all. As You have shown gentleness to me, teach me the ways of gentleness toward others. Amen.