My Blackberry went down two days ago. Verizon sent me a new one. I am thankful. However, while trying to reprogram the new Blackberry, I ran into major obstacles. Instead of responding with thanksgiving and grace, I threw a hissy-fit (Old English for temper tantrum).
I lacked meekness.
This virtue matters. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). According to Websters meekness is the quality of “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” In other words, meekness is that disposition of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting
Moses is a case study. His siblings, Miriam and Aaron, attacked him unjustly. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” Moses refused to defend himself. He trusted God to defend him. The text notes, “Now the man, Moses, was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3). God responded. He struck Miriam with leprosy.
Everything the Bible says about meekness culminates at the cross. The cross glorified Christ’s meekness. In the words of Peter, Christ “suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23). Like Moses, Jesus left his defense to God.
Here is the amazing truth. Through the cross, through meekness, Christ inherited the earth. Because of his suffering and death, the Father crowned him “Lord of Lords and King of Kings.” You and I will inherit the earth in the same way.
How counter-intuitive could any truth be? Islam conquers by Jihad. Christ conquered through meekness. Islam conquers by taking life. Christians conquer by dying in the beauty of meekness.
I want to grow in meekness. I trust you do as well.
Great post! I never thought of applying meekness to non-personal situations. And I never noticed Jesus example of meekness on the cross! How excellent is our Savior!