Suggested Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4 and Psalm 103
The
tenderness and gentleness of God are on display in the story of Advent.
There
was no trumpet of royal fanfare as the angel quietly slipped into the presence
of Mary and gently told her she had been chosen to be the mother of the
Messiah. The news was troubling, but softly delivered.
Joseph,
a good and honourable man, planned to gently and quietly break off his
engagement to Mary, until his sleep was disturbed by a messenger from heaven.
Another angelic visitation, quietly reassuring him that Mary’s honour was
intact, inviting Joseph to be the adoptive father of the unborn Messiah.
Mary
and Joseph shared an uneventful trip to Bethlehem, and when Jesus finally
appears from Mary’s womb, God’s gentleness continues. The King of kings and
Lord of lords, the master of powers beyond belief comes to us. He comes to us
as a weak and vulnerable baby. What could be gentler than a newborn baby? The
holy family lead a quiet, simple life. Neither boldness nor brashness marks
this carpenter family. There was nothing about them that attracted special
attention as they lived up in the hills, far from the centre of things in Rome
or even Jerusalem.
God
is patient, kind, and gentle through the story and throughout history.
The
King of the Universe is just and powerful. He has structured both the physical
and spiritual universe around immutable laws. We have broken the law and we
should bear the full consequences and be sentenced for our crimes. But God does
not treat us as our sins deserves. He is patient with His traitorous children.
He waits patiently and gently woos us back to Himself. He made a way for
justice to be carried out and mercy and gentleness to be carried out as well.
He devised a way to take our sins upon Himself. He took the sentence for our
crimes and was punished for our wrong choices.
Then,
having removed the barrier between us, He quietly and gently slips into our
hearts and lives. Through His Holy Spirit the gentle God births His gentleness
in us.
.....
Questions:
How
does God’s gentle love touch your heart?
How
can you reflect the gentleness of God in your relationships today?
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