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“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5
The word Advent means “coming,” and in this season we focus on both of Jesus’ comings. We prepare to celebrate the stupendous event when Jesus came to earth as a baby long ago, and we also prepare to welcome him when he comes again in glory.
It is Jesus’ second coming that is in view in Philippians 4:5, a traditional Advent text. “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
“Gentleness” in this verse means giving people a little slack, responding with grace when someone doesn’t measure up to our expectations. So often, sadly, we’re the opposite of gentle. We judge people quickly and harshly when we think they’ve fallen short. One example of this is the old adage that we judge others according to their performance, while we judge ourselves according to our intentions. We let ourselves off the hook with “Well, I meant well” or “I did my best,” but with other people it’s “they simply didn’t get it done” or “there’s no excuse for that.” How are you at being gentle?
Why should we be gentle? Why should we give people some slack? The Apostle Paul’s answer is straightforward: “The Lord is near.” Jesus’ return is imminent; it could occur at any time. And when Jesus comes again, he will come as judge. Which means that judging is Jesus’ job, not mine, and whenever I judge someone, I am arrogantly taking on a role that belongs only to Jesus. When I judge, I act as if God has an away message that says, “I’m sorry, I’m away from my desk right now, but if there’s any judging to be done, I’ve asked Sandy Hull to do it for me. Contact him.” That’s ridiculous, of course, but so is my presumption that I have the right to pass judgment on anyone.
This Advent we wait with longing expectation for Jesus to return and make all things right again. As we do, let’s leave the judging to the coming Christ and let our gentleness be evident to all.
Lord Jesus, give us such a vision of your return in glory that we will not presume to judge other people, but will love them with your love.
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