A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Maybe not often enough, but from time to time we discuss the importance of gentleness and kindness. Like any quality or behavior, these come more naturally to some than they do to others. Even so, none of us is inherently kind and gentle; rather, we learn these things and display them through Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate expression of God’s kindness and gentleness in the lives of his people. Paul describes Christ in Titus 3 as the very manifestation of God’s love and kindness. God literally gave the absolute best and most that he could give—his own Son—in order that we may be recipients of God’s grace and salvation. To be in Christ, therefore, is to be a beneficiary of the kindness and gentleness of the God of Heaven.
Since we are beneficiaries of such great and perfect kindness, how should we respond? Paul again helps us. After detailing in the early verses of Romans 8 the myriad blessings of those of us who are in Christ, Paul next asks a question: “What, then, shall we say in response to this?” God determined to spare nothing for our sake, Paul continues. In fact, He even gave up his own Son “for us all,” and accordingly will continue through him to give us all things—and he will do so by his grace. Knowing that our God—who owes us nothing, by the way—has done this for us, what are we to do in response? How are we to act? What should we determine to give and to sacrifice for the sake of others in order that they might be served and that God might be honored? The answer is simple: we are to give everything we can. This includes our time, our money, our love, our effort, and even our pride.
God has shown us the way to peace and life. Let us all pray together that we will respond in kind, not in imitation of what others do or say to us, but to the kindness and gentleness of our Savior.
–Ricky