Monday
Matthew 5.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
The mental picture of Jesus the passive, untroubled and untroubling Teacher, with a wistful smile and a calm demeanour, pictured like a benign hippie, is a country mile from the reality of Jesus. The well-known words “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild” are so one sided they obscure and distort the Jesus of the New Testament. Yet Jesus says of himself, “For I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Yes, but that just means somewhere along the line what Jesus said is lost in translation! Meekness is not weakness, it is strength harnessed to purpose, the steel that supports each choice a person makes in favour of obedience to God, no matter what.
Tuesday
Matthew 11.29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In an abrasive and aggressively self-promoting culture, meekness is unlikely to be the smart way ahead. Or so we’ve been conditioned to think. The word Jesus used for meek has inner resilience within its meaning. Oxen yoked to the plough demonstrate meekness, that is, strength harnessed to purpose, and power under control. We come to Jesus for rest, he gives us a yoke! But that implement guides and controls, enabling the obedience that comes from learning from the One who promises rest instead of weariness, and the yoke of learning in place of crushing burden.
Wednesday
Matthew 21.5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, meek and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
The triumphal entry was a different kind of triumph. Not an all-powerful ruler, leading a procession of victorious soldiers followed by long lines of conquered prisoners. He came gentle, meek, humble – three words used to translate the original Greek adjective. The triumph is not in the conquest, but in the purpose of his coming as the one called Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus’ coming, sets in motion the triumph of God, the victory of the Crucified – “Ride on, ride on, in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die…” Meekness and strength harnessed to purpose, redemptive purpose.
Thursday
Ephesians 4.2 “Be completely humble and meek, be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
This is Paul’s definition of what meekness looks and feels like. It means putting up with people, being patient with their problems, and not giving up on them even if they are the problem! This pastoral imperative comes after Paul’s urging them, “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Meekness is Christ-like, and we are called to be those who live in Christ, and in whom Christ lives. Many a church squabble breaks out because there is a deficit of meekness, a refusal to bear with one another in love. In short, our failure to take the meekness of Christ to heart.
Friday
James 3.13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the meekness that comes from wisdom.”
We learn from experience. When someone does something stupid, wrong or unworthy of them, we say, “You should have known better.” Actually, we don’t always learn from experience, unless we become reflective practitioners of our own discipleship. Wisdom is accumulated from lessons learned in meekness. You can’t be a know-all and a disciple of Jesus. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” is the command and demand that follows the invitation, “Come to me all who are burdened.”
Saturday
Colossians 3.12 “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.”
You can tell a lot about a word’s meaning by the company it keeps. And Paul’s metaphor of being well dressed, clothed with Christ, describes in colourful terms the Christian as a non-fashion-conscious follower of Jesus. The clothes we wear make a statement, a visible message about who we are, the colours we prefer, even the impression we want to make. To be clothed in the meekness of Christ is to have taken his yoke, learned from him, and found rest. That’s identity statement enough.
Sunday
Matthew 5.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
The meek are blessed because they have come to Jesus. They have meekly taken his yoke and learned of him as commanded. The result is that they shall inherit the earth. What on earth does that mean though, really? The meek are the powerless, those who don’t make claims of their own self-importance; those who can look on the world without feeling they have to grab and possess as much of it as they can. They shall inherit the earth, not the material stuff of influence, but the reward of God who satisfies the hungry and thirsty soul, comforts the mournful, calls peacemakers his children, and opens a world of blessing to those who seek first God’s Kingdom.
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