O blessed Lord, whom, without faith, it is
impossible to please, let Thy Holy Spirit, I
beseech Thee, work in me such a faith as
may be acceptable in Thy sight, even that
faith which worketh by love. O let me not
rest in a dead faith; but grant that it may
be such as may show itself by my works;
that it may be that victorious faith, which
may enable me to overcome the world, and
conform me to the image of that Christ in
whom I believe; that at last I may receive
the end of my faith, even the salvation of
my soul, through the same Jesus Christ, our
blessed Redeemer. Amen.
The Greek word the Bible often translates “gentle” is epiekes . It technically has a richer meaning than any English word. In the language of the day, it was used in a way similar to being kind, courteous or tolerant. Patience to endue injustice, mistreatment or disgrace. Yielding. Willingness to remain self-controlled when wronged. Humility. Someone once said it could be called “graciousness of humility.” This word shows up when describing the character of an elder who must not be “pugnacious, but gentle ( epiekes )” (1 Tim. 3:3). In Titus 3:2 we are “to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle ( epiekes ).” James tells us the wisdom that comes down from above is, “First pure, then peaceable, gentle” ( epiekes ). In Philippians 4:5 we are to “let [our] gentle ( epiekes ) spirit be known to all men.”
Randy Smith