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“Blessed
are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Psalm
37:11
(NIV)
“But the meek will inherit
the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”
When you hear the word meek, what do you think? Does it conjure
up images of a shy and quiet individual – perhaps one who is so submissive as
to allow others to take advantage of him? Is meekness a sign of
weakness?
I used to think so…
Then something
happened. During a women’s retreat in the mountains of North Carolina at the
Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, I learned a few things about what God
thinks of the meek. Matthew 5:5 and Psalm 37:11 both promise the meek an
inheritance of the whole earth. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Then it gets
better! The meek will enjoy two more conditions we all long for: peace and
prosperity. “But the meek will
inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” While journaling at
that retreat, I wrote this prayer on March 14, 2009: Lord, make me meek so that I can be strong for You. Take away my selfish
ambitions and make me ambitious for You. Since that time, God has answered
my prayer in an interesting (and extremely effective) way. God did not make me
meek. Instead, He showers me with opportunities to choose meekness. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikes4yPulmI) And for the
most part, I do…
The primary
definition of meek in the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “showing patience and humility; enduring injury
with patience and without resentment.” Wow! That is the poster-description of
Christ Jesus. Even though Pontius Pilate had found no legal grounds for death,
Jesus, in a total display of meekness, picked up His cross and started up the
hill past His accusers. Then while hanging on the cross, Jesus asked God for
mercy on those who were crucifying Him. There was no resentment. There was no
anger. There was certainly no selfish ambition or pride. There was no retribution
or revenge. There was only patience, love, and forgiveness – a total display of
holiness.
Haven’t we all been
in a place where we've had the opportunity to choose how to respond to
injustice? A trusted friend betrays us beyond what we think we can handle.
Someone rejects or abandons us in such a painful and profound way that we are
unsure of what to do or how to react. An unfair accusation or label is forced
upon us without proof, remorse, or concern. For me, there is nothing harder on
this earth than choosing to patiently endure an injustice, swallow my pride,
forsake my reputation, or forgive the unforgivable. But I have done it.
You can too.
One of my
“wound” buttons is the fear of being misunderstood. My insides rip apart if I
believe someone has judged me without hearing my side of the story – my
motives, my thought-processes, my prayers, or the reasons behind my decisions.
So when an unfair and one-sided accusation from my personal world was shared
with my boss in my professional world, I felt the weight of pride and
reputation heavy on my shoulders. This is
unfair! Her side of the story is so different from mine. She painted me in such
a bad light. That was so inappropriate to share with my boss. What will he
think of me? I need to tell him my perspective and set things straight! Anger
tore. Peace was nowhere to be found
during the heated battle within my heart.
However, I did
what I have now learned is the only thing to do when expectations go unmet and
emotions threaten to bubble over into regretful words and actions. I
immediately started to pray. God reminded me that this was yet another
opportunity to become strong for Him … by choosing to be meek like Christ. That
IS what I asked for so many years ago – for Him to take away my selfish ambitions.
He showed me that succumbing to the bickering and justifying my side of the
story would only escalate the situation. My boss was not looking for answers,
for drama, or for personal agendas. He wasn't looking for anything. God
reminded me He is the God of justice too. This did not have to be my battle to
fight. So I swallowed my pride, put on the cloak of meekness, and chose to let
it go.
At times, I
still struggle with finding my “inner meek”, and sometimes I am not successful.
But guess what? When I let this specific slander go, as I gave it over to God
and in return was filled with God’s grace, peace ensued. The weight of
reputation and pride lifted and was replaced with God’s forgiveness. Through
the work of the Holy Spirit, I became a little more like Christ – a little more
holy.
Prayer –Thank You, God, for opportunities to become more Christ-like, more
holy. I pray we choose to say yes to those opportunities every time. Yet even
when we do fall, and when we chose pride, selfish ambition, or anger, You are
there for us then too. For the life, work, death and resurrection of Jesus, we
are eternally grateful. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.
© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.
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