“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” —Philippians 4:5
This is such a simple verse. It is so short that it’s easy to gloss over without much thought. But think about what Paul is really saying: let your gentleness be extremely obvious to everyone around you. That’s a striking command we don’t hear often.
What would it look like if our gentleness were unmistakable in daily life? Picture sitting in traffic and choosing patience instead of irritation. Imagine navigating a family conflict, not by raising your voice, but by lowering the temperature with calm words. Think of offering constructive criticism at work in a way that leaves the other person encouraged, not diminished. Or imagine scrolling through heated political debates and responding with listening ears and gracious words instead of the need to be right.
Gentleness feels like a soft warm blanket on a freezing cold night. It is kind, approachable, and life-giving. Isn’t it wonderful to be on the receiving end of gentleness rather than harshness? And yet, how often do we hear Christians urging one another to make gentleness obvious? Rarely.
It is sobering that Christians are often characterized as harsh and judgmental. But what if the opposite were true? What if we lived in such a way that gentleness became an obvious quality? The gospel would not only be spoken, it would be embodied in a way that brought grace and healing to others.
Paul’s reminder that “the Lord is near” places this call in deeper reality. On one hand, it means Christ is already present with us empowering our gentleness in every moment. On the other hand, His second coming being close at hand encourages us to let go of defensiveness or harshness, trusting that justice and vindication belong to Him. Because Jesus is both with us now and coming soon, gentleness becomes not a sign of weakness, but an act of faith in His imminent presence. May your calm and gentle presence shine as a reflection of our Lord who is near.