"... for
they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
Meekness
is the opposite of weakness. As a firmly rooted willow bends and flexes through
the storm without breaking, so meekness is flexible resilient strength that can
endure tests and turmoil, not by stiff resistance, but by gentle yielding.
Rooted in Christ and resting in His will, you may share His meekness and
pass triumphantly through the storms of your life. As you gently bend in the
wind and yield yourself to His wise plan for each of your days, “the peace
that passes all understanding” comes silently like a cloud and shelters you in
His love. Because
you know Him as the wise, loving, sovereign King who planned the path and sees
the final outcome, you can accept His ways for you as good without argument or
opposition. Resisting Him, you fall and break. Surrendered to Him, you stand
anchored and indestructible in the fiercest storm.
Meekness,
then, is a willingness to give up your own feeble, finite strength and put your
life into His hands. When you do, nothing can prevent Him from extending to you
His boundless, unquenchable, and eternal wisdom, love and power.
Again
we see that God’s way up is down. To receive the many treasures of His Kingdom,
you must recognize your own basic poverty of spirit (our own utter emptiness and
inability apart from God) and, by His grace, “mourn” separation from Him.
Trusting in God rather than in yourself is no longer a spiritual exercise of
obedience; it is becoming a pattern of life growing from a heart that has found
its source of peace and and seeks none other.
Make
me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free!
Force
me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I
sink in life’s alarm, when by myself I stand;
Imprison
me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.
George
Matheson, 1842-1906
FIRST
DAY: Read Matthew 5:5 together with Ps. 37:11a
1.
Define “meekness”. (Use a dictionary, but let God’s Word be your main
resource. Some translations use the word "gentle" instead of meek,
which gives you a clue to part of the definition.) Add insights as you study the
passages in this lesson.
2.
What will the meek inherit? Explain. (See also Psalm 24:1-6;
Romans 5:17b; 2 Corinthians 2:14; and Philippians 4:11-13)
SECOND
DAY: Jesus was meek. All His life He manifested the strength, humility and
peace of meekness. Look at Him!
1.
Study and meditate on the following passages. Where do you see His
meekness?
Matt.
11 :28-30
Matt.
21:5
Matt.
26:36-45
1
Pet. 2:21-23b
2.
(Personal) God says to you, “Have this attitude in yourself which
was also in Christ Jesus....” (Philippians 2:5) From the above
passages (and any others which you remember), describe the attitude of meekness
you desire to manifest. (Remember, meekness
is not being a "doormat." Moses, God’s mighty leader and
deliverer “was very meek, more than any man who was on the face of the
earth.” Numbers 12:3)
THIRD
DAY: The Scriptures are full of examples of meekness manifested through
God’s people. Let Him teach and
encourage
you through them.
1.
Read 1 Samuel 24:7-20. David knew he was annointed to be king
over Israel. Only Saul, now a rejected, jealous and bitter ruler, stood in his
way and prolonged David’s wait for his rightful place. While Saul sought to
murder his rival, David was given a perfect opportunity to kill Saul; yet what
did David choose to do? Why?
How did he demonstrate meekness?
2.
Read 2 Samuel 16:5-12. David was not perfect, but he humbly
repented of his sins and knew that God had forgiven him. Shimei, however, would
not forgive his offense against the king. Describe David’s reaction
toS himei’s attack. Where do you see meekness?
3.
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:4-12. In v. 7 you find the word “meek”
(or gentle) used to summarize how Paul lived among the Thessalonians. What
qualities does meekness include and exclude here?
4.
(Personal) What did you learn from the above illustrations that encourage
you in your present circumstances and choices?
FOURTH
DAY: God has given you many
guidelines in His Word which help you to live a lifestyle of meekness. These are
keys to contentment and victory while here on earth. What is God saying to you
in each of the following passages?
Matt.
23:11-12
Galatians
6:1-3
Colossians
3:12-13
FIFTH
DAY: Read John 12:24-26.
These words of Jesus explain why Paul could say, “None of these things move
me, neither count I my life precious to myself; that I might finish my course
with joy...” (Acts 20:24 KJV) For Paul had “died with Christ”, so
that Jesus would forever be his true life.
1.
What is Jesus saying to you in vs. 24-25? (For further
understanding see Rom. 6:4-8.)
2.
(Challenge) What additional insight do you gain in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18?
3.According
to John 12:26, what wonderful blessing may you enjoy here and now, if you
choose His way of meekness?
SIXTH
DAY: Read Philippians
4:11-13 and discover more of the blessings the meek will enjoy here on
earth.
1.
What is Paul telling you about his heart and mindset?
2.
From the preceding passages, why is Paul able to be content in any
circumstance? (What is his “secret”? Consider also Rom. 6:11, 13)
3.
How can you live this life of meekness, freedom and contentment? Do you
want it? Tell your King.
The Secret of
Abundant Life: Lesson
5
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