Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

I suspect that no one takes too kindly to being taken advantage of. Few things get our blood boiling faster than being lied to or cheated. Maybe only the mistreatment of our children would draw our ire quicker. Though there are times when confrontation is necessary in dealing with an issue, it is how we handle the confrontation that is a good indicator of our spiritual maturity. And there may even be times when we should just let it go. Sometimes the right thing to do is to suffer wrong and endure it. But the attitude in which we suffer wrong is of utmost importance.

The apostle Paul tells us that as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved that we are to clothe ourselves with meekness. To be meek is to be mild, gentle in mind, quiet, lamblike and humble. It also means to be unresisting, much like a lamb being led to the slaughter. These definitions lead one to believe that to be meek is to be a doormat for others to wipe their feet. Yet meekness is not weakness but strength under control.

There is no better example of meekness than Jesus, the Lamb of God, being led to the slaughter; executed for crimes he did not commit. Isaiah wrote, He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7 ESV) He had the host of heaven at his disposal, yet in meekness he submitted to the will of his Father. And might I add that Jesus was just as submitted and meek when he cleared the temple (Mark 11:15), as he was when he went to the cross.

The yoke Christ bore contained meekness and we are to take his yoke upon us. He commanded us, Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle (meek) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29 ESV) Did you notice the result of taking Christ’s yoke? Our souls will be at rest. Too often the issues of this world keeps our souls in turmoil. Living a life of meekness will cause our souls to rest in God’s sovereign providence. We really should be more obsessed with clothing ourselves with the meekness of Christ than we are about preserving our rights.

A great Old Testament deliverer gives us another example of meekness. The scripture tells us, Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3 ESV) This is the same Moses to whom God spoke face to face as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11).

There are blessings for those who clothe themselves in meekness. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5 ESV) Isaiah prophesied, The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:19 ESV)

Are you clothed with meekness? Will you inherit the blessing of the meek?

Scriptures for meditation:
Psalm 37:11; 45:4
2 Corinthians 10:1
James 1:21; 3:13
1 Peter 3:4

Copyright © 2018 Steve Pruitt/lovnJesus.com

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