Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.
—Colossians 3:12
Jesus is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing. Since he is all-that, you might expect him to be described in bold, brassy, bombastic words.
But I only recall two words that Jesus used in his self-appraisal of his disposition. Only two: gentle and humble—“I am gentle and humble” (Mt 11:29).
God’s desire is that we “be conformed to the likeness of his Son” (Rom 8:29). Gentle. Humble.
Paul got it. He sprinkled his New Testament writings with advocacy for those traits of disposition: “Be completely humble and gentle” (Eph 4:2); “Clothe yourselves with . . . humility, gentleness” (Col 3:12); “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Phil 4:5). “Always be gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:2).
Weigh your words, attitude, and actions. Do they tip the scale at Jesus’ gold standard of gentle and humble?
Describe your disposition in two words:
I am _________ and __________.