Meekness: Being a Child of God

Day 220

October 22

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Lay your yoke (burden) upon me and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart...” (Matthew 11:28-30)

We can learn the true meaning of gentleness and humbleness by looking at the life of Jesus.  Without question, he suffered more than anyone else in all of human history, for his body was not only broken beyond recognition, but he spiritually took on the sins of the entire world and experienced the absolute wrath of the Father.  No one else holds this claim.

And yet, he says “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Jesus understood that even in his absolute suffering, He could trust the Father.  This gentleness, which is also described as meekness, is a work of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:23) It is the fruit of acknowledging the goodness of God to the point where we accept his choices for the circumstances we experience, both the good and the bad.  It is not blind submissiveness, but relying upon the strength of God and not in our own systems and abilities to right the wrongs of the world and defending us against all evil.  This meekness allows us to see that God is in control above all things and in His perfect timing and plan, we will be molded into the men and women He is calling us to be AND will be delivered by Him through our sufferings.

Jesus did not remain in the tomb.  His body did not decay, his soul did not experience eternal suffering.  He is ALIVE and SEATED in glory with the Father.  He was DELIVERED because in his meekness, he humbly trusted in His Father’s plans and He obeyed. 

Confess the goodness of God today.  Find rest for your soul.  Let your praises to Him produce the fruit of meekness and humbleness in your heart KNOWING that your reward is assured: the meek shall inherit the earth.  Not the fallen earth that we know today, but the new earth promised as an inheritance to the children of God.

Read and meditate on Matthew 5:1-12