Humble and Gentle Giants: Strength That Reflects the Heart of Jesus

Summary

Humility and gentleness are closely connected qualities that reflect the heart of Jesus. Though often misunderstood as weakness, they combine strength, courage, and self-control. Humble people see themselves honestly, live gratefully by God’s grace, and remain teachable and responsive to Him. Gentleness submits strength to God’s control. Jesus Himself modeled perfect humility and gentleness, proving that true spiritual greatness is expressed through yielded strength and loving restraint.

Humility and Gentleness Closely Connected

My mother’s first cousin, Ruth, and her brother Arthur were genetically more similar to her than most first cousins. They were the children of my maternal grandmother’s brother and maternal grandfather’s sister. Similarly, humility and gentleness are closely connected.

Misunderstood as Weakness

Humble, gentle spiritual people don’t try to make a name for themselves. They often seem like pushovers. Many misunderstand their humility and gentleness as signs of weakness and repeatedly try to exploit them.

How Humble and Gentle Giants See Themselves

Humble people see themselves as they are. They know they’re sinners. They realize they’ve fallen short of God’s goodness standard--Jesus’ perfect life in word, attitude, and deed.

They also understand that by God’s undeserved favor through their faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, they are God’s children. He has declared them righteous by crediting Jesus’ righteousness to their account. They are grateful for God’s favor and live like it.

Humble, gentle giants don’t assume they are nothing. They don’t put themselves down. They don’t think less of themselves. They do, however, think of themselves less.

Yielded and Teachable Hearts

They don’t boast, seek revenge, or promote themselves. They are yielded and responsive to God. They don’t pretend to know everything. They are teachable.

They allow Jesus to be Himself in and through them. They permit Him to teach them to be like Him.

Jesus was humble and gentle. He said, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29 NLT). 

Gentleness as Controlled Strength

Gentleness blends strength, courage, and restraint. Gentle people are strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10), but don’t have to prove it. They courageously but respectfully do what’s right. They maintain self-control (Galatians 5:23). They don’t retaliate or pursue revenge against those who offend them.

Their gentleness isn’t natural. Like plow horses, they have been tamed and trained to be gentle. They submit their strengths to God’s control.

They keep a faith connection to Jesus, the vine (John 15). He produces abiding fruit. As a result, their Holy Spirit-empowered loving words and actions bless others.

The Apostle Paul writes that a life worthy of Divine calling is completely humble and gentle (Ephesians 4:2). Humbly gentle spiritual people gently communicate God’s truth to those who haven’t yet accepted it, trusting God will soften their hearts (2 Timothy 2:25). They share a reason for their hope in God with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Moses was known for his gentleness (Numbers 12:3). He cared about God’s honor and what was best for others. He was strong but responsive to God’s control.

Humble, gentle giants say no to their agenda for the day when necessary to say yes to God’s agenda for their lives.

Jesus the Supreme Example

God is unimaginably big and powerful. He transcends space and time. Jesus, the Word made flesh, created everything (John 1:3, 14), yet He described Himself as humble and gentle. He humbled Himself to become human and to die on the cross in our place (Philippians 2:7-8). If Jesus isn’t too big to be humble and gentle, it’s foolish to think we are.

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