BLESSED!

“Blessed Are the Meek”

Pastor Corrie Gustafson | 06.30.2013

Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

1 Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, 2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret - it leads only to evil. 9 For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. (Psalm 37:1-11)

The Context of Meekness:

• Meekness is a virtue that arises in the context of an unjust attack.

The Character of Meekness:

• The meek are those who put aside retaliation

Lessons from Moses

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men that were on the face of the earth . (Numbers 12:3)

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them. (Numbers 20:12)

Lessons from Jesus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.   (Matthew 11:28-30)

Say to Daughter: Zion, ‘See, our king comes to you, meek and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Matthew 21:5)

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals...Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:33-34)

...Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

“Meekness is a passive trait, describing the proper Christian response when others mistreat us. Gentleness is an active trait, describing the manner in which we should treat others. Both gentleness and meekness are born of power, not weakness...a Christian is to be gentle and meek because those are Godlike virtues...We should never be afraid, therefore, that [meekness] of Spirit means weakness of character. It takes strength, God’s strength, to be truly [meek].
Jerry Bridges in The Practice of Godliness [changes mine]