Friday, July 19, 2013

By: Gwen Hitt

 

Day 4: The Beatitudes "Blessed are the Meek"

 

Being Meek Is not Being Weak

 

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

  

I am certain that we have all heard an adult proclaim (or have proclaimed ourselves) to a child "Great Job" - when the child honestly didn't do anything THAT significant. Why is this done? I am sure that parents AND teachers do this with the goal of developing a healthy esteem in the children under their care.

 

Sadly, an over-abundance of praise without correction for negative behavior can be detrimental. As documented by current research, it can actually lead to young adults not only with a greater sense of entitlement but also over-inflated and unrealistic self-perceptions.

 

How do we raise up confident and considerate children that realize the world doesn't revolve JUST around them? I believe that today's verse holds the key. Unfortunately, one of the words in this verse is often misunderstood.

 

For many, the words meek and weak have the same meaning. In actuality, the meaning of these two words are vastly different. In Webster's Dictionary, weak is defined as lacking strength. In comparison, meek is defined by Wikipedia as God-fearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering.

 

Jesus and Moses, considered by many to be two of the most powerful men in the Bible, were referred to as meek. Jesus describes Himself in Matthew 11:29 in the following way "I am meek and lowly in heart." Likewise, Numbers 12:3 portrays Moses in this manner - "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth."

 

When I reflect on the lives of Jesus and Moses, I believe that both fully reflected the Wikipedia definition of meek .... They were God-fearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering.

 

Jesus who SPOKE calmness to the seas, CHASED the money changers out of the Temple, and ENDURED excruciating pain and suffering WAS definitely not WEAK.

 

What about Moses? He stood up to the powerful Pharaoh of Egypt and then took the responsibility of leading a multitude of individuals to a Promised Land that was already inhabited by powerful nations.

 

My challenge to you today is to operate in the understanding that meekness IS NOT weakness but is submission to God with a desire to learn and to put into practice the humility of Christ.

 

Dear Lord, You tell us in Psalm 37:11, "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." I pray that I will increasingly approach others with humility, knowing that my strength can be found in You.

 

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.