Meekness

Thursday 22^nd February

Read Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.” (NIVUK)

Meekness does not mean pushover. Meekness is a conscious decision to put others first. It seems rather counter-intuitive, but Jesus declares that the good life belongs to those who are genuinely meek. If the poor in spirit, the powerless, will receive the kingdom of heaven, then those who are powerful but choose to put others first, will inherit the earth. Last year we considered Moses, the leader of Israel, choosing not to lash out at those who opposed him, but interceding for them. He was declared the meekest man who ever lived and this was considered high praise indeed (Numbers 12)!

Jesus himself was meek and humble in heart and provided the ultimate example (Matthew 11). Paul certainly thought so. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death –
        even death on a cross!” (NIVUK)

That is what meekness looks like. It is sadly rather rare in the church.