“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Philippians 4:5 (ESV)
I have created quite the exception to this rule. I find that I am selective when it comes to who will receive a reasonable, gentle attitude from me. Surprisingly, I have a lot of grace for my children. I suppose it is really God’s grace in my life and theirs because he has allowed me to develop a fairly consistent gentle spirit with my kids. When I am in public, I am a fairly reasonable person as well. I enjoy small talk with clerks, attendants, cashiers, etc. Even when I am inconvenienced, in large part, I am able to remain composed, kind, and gentle. The trouble is that God’s design for my life is that I would be reasonable to ALL people. This is where the truth begins to unravel and I notice some ugly inconsistencies in my behavior.
My mother is a victim of my unkindness. She loves me unconditionally and somehow this gives me license to lose my temper, say rude things or become irritated with her over basically nothing.
Then, there is the matter of my husband. Too often, I decide that I am too tired, too irritable, too hungry or too stressed on any given day to control myself before him. I can let a myriad of things create an excuse so that a short temper, cross word, or heated rant becomes justified in my mind because my dear sweet husband will love me no matter what, and he can be the exception to the rule for the day.
God does not ask us to be reasonable on days when we get adequate sleep, alone time, enough exercise or a second cup of coffee. He does not say be gentle only to those who deserve it. The truth is that gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Read the full devotion at https://devotableapp.com/daily-devotion-let-your-reasonableness-be-known/