Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, said gentleness is a crucial quality to develop for a Christian seeking to be like Jesus.
"It diffuses conflict. It disarms critics. It's persuasive. It's attractive. It communicates love. Most importantly, gentleness makes you more like Jesus," he said.
He quoted Matthew 11:28-29 to illustrate his point:
Most importantly, gentleness makes you more like Jesus. Matthew 11:28-29 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (NIV).
The verse has implications for how we look at our state of mind, according to Warren. He suggests that the stress that we feel is because we are not gentle, "because the Bible says that the more gentle you become, the more Christ-like you become and the more at rest you will be."
Warren assured that this "gentleness" is not ours to strive for, but rather "it's got to be an 'inside job'. It has to be the fruit of God's spirit inside you."
The key, he said, is that we "let him share [our] burdens" and we "will walk with him in a close relationship."
Through this close relationship, Warren said "you will learn how to be more gentle and humble, and he will give you rest and peace, not stress and pressure."
