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August 22, 2008
The Meek
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5
In popular thinking the term meek implies weakness. The word Jesus used had a different
meaning. His picture of meekness is that of a stallion that has been brought into subjection
to its master. Whereas it once fought against any attempt to bring it under control,
resisting direction with all its strength, now it yields its will to its master. The
stallion has lost none of its strength or endurance; it has simply turned these over to the
control of the master.
For the Christian, meekness requires submitting our will to the Master. Meekness is not
submitting to everyone around us, it is taking our direction from God. Meekness means that
we do not have to defend our rights, but we allow the Lord to defend us. Meekness means a
life that is submissive to the Holy Spirit, giving Him the freedom to make any changes He
knows are necessary. Meekness involves a self-control that comes from trusting God. Meekness
demonstrates an attitude of long-suffering that allows God to deal with the injustice we face.
Jesus' life was the paragon of meekness. He could have called upon legions of angels to
remove Him from the cross, yet He allowed sinners to torture and kill Him. Although Jesus
was by no means powerless to defend Himself, He chose to yield His life to the Father's will.
He did this because He trusted the Father completely. When we doubt the Father, we tend to
act in our own strength, rather than relying on His power. Jesus said that in relinquishing
control over our lives to God, we will gain life in abundance!
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