God is Good and Gentle. This week we’re combining goodness and gentleness for our study of the Fruitful Living. When I think of being fruitful, I realize that when I am filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God, that’s when I can live most fruitfully. Because we have placed ourselves in the hands of God, yielded our will to Him, and have chosen to allow the Spirit of God to work in our lives, we can be fruit producers! We can be an earthy example of what heaven is like! Of course we are still clothed in flesh, and definitely are “cracked pots” or imperfect vessels, but we are on a path to becoming more like Christ day by day. That happens more and more as each day we choose fruit over flesh. I think we all have a pretty good understanding that we serve a God who is good. His Word says that it is the goodness of God that draws us to salvation. God is benevolent, gracious, and generous to us, in ways more numerous to mention. Read Psalm 107 for a classic portrayal of God’s goodness. Oh, that we would praise Him for His goodness, and his wonderful works to the children of men. (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31!) Praise HIM! Great strength under control is an awesome definition for gentleness. A gentle person isn’t weak, he or she is controlled. The word meekness is used for gentleness in various versions of the Bible denoting a soothing medication to calm the angry mind. A gentle person can be like the calm in the midst of a storm, a balm for an open wound, or a gentle answer against fiery darts. Jesus called himself gentle and humble. In Matthew 11:28-30, He told us to come to him when we are hurting, broken or weary. He wants to give us rest – that’s what gentleness and humility do – take us from a place of wrestling to a place of rest. You can run to the arms of Jesus when you need to find a gentle, humble refuge. You can trust Him!