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And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24

Read: 2 Timothy 2:23-26
Listen: 2 Timothy 2

God’s servants should be kind. That’s what Paul writes to Timothy regarding arguments in the church. Paul frames the conversation through the lens of a servant. If Timothy can remember he is God’s servant and that it’s about what God wants to do, he can be kind, gentle and hopeful. Paul reminds Timothy that God is the one who brings repentance. Timothy has a role to play— it’s to be kind and gentle. He’s to leave the rest to God. It’s gentleness motivated by hope.

The way of Jesus is the way of a servant, but our culture frowns on servanthood. Our debates often forsake kindness or gentleness. We tend to focus only on being right. But it’s possible to be right and completely wrong in how we are right. Our posture matters as we engage people who don’t believe or live the way we do. We must see ourselves as God’s servants. A posture of servanthood leads to kindness and gentleness. It helps us remember the other person is someone God loves and created in his image. We can take a breath and pray to ask God to help us when we feel like we may be headed toward being quarrelsome or unkind. It’s not abandoning truth but being gentle in how we present it because we have hope that God is doing something in them.

TODAY: Grab your journal and write down topics or people who cause you to struggle with kindness and gentleness. Note a few reasons for these struggles. Write a prayer asking God to help you remember you are his servant and are called to be kind, gentle and hopeful in those situations.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read 1 Samuel 22-23. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Consider David’s continued suffering at the hand of his own people.