Hi Everyone 🙂

Happy middle-of-the-week to you! I hope all is well. I’m sorry for the late post. I’m going to have to be shorter this week due to increased family obligations…

Today we’ll continue to look at what the Lord Jesus Christ has said in His sermon on the mount, focusing on the first part called the Beatitudes. These beatitudes can be seen as character traits or personal qualities of those who are on the right road to eternal salvation. And what better motivation can we have than to see if we are such as one of those?

As we progress along these beatitudes, I want to first recap the ones we covered thus far…

Mathew 5:3-4
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Those who are “poor in spirit” know in their heart of hearts that they are unable to contribute anything to their declaration of “not guilty” before the Divine Judge. In fact they know beyond all reasonable doubt they are indeed guilty. Such people are “poor” as in being destitute of righteousness. They are beggars.

And once a proud sinner sees by the light of truth that they have been on death row all along, they contemplate what crimes they committed to get there. And believe me, such ponderings can bring a person low to deep sorrow over those sins.

Then, if one’s conscience is beholding this awful truth and such conviction of sins is like Isaiah’s (Isaiah 6:5), divinely facilitated, then God-willing… Dear Almighty God willing, true repentance will come forth.

Now this brings us to this week’s beatitude…

Mathew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Pop quiz: What does a wicked and hard-hearted sinner become after truly repenting and putting their trust in Christ, recognizing that it was only by the grace of God that their death sentence was commuted?

Answer: Meek (among many other wonderful character traits)

Lest I be too oversimplified, I think this beatitude is the first evidence of a transformed heart after having been justified in the eyes of God. For you see, justification is like a courtroom matter, and meekness speaks to sanctification. In other words, when God through His Holy Spirit transforms you, He causes you to want to be more like Christ… and Jesus was certainly meek.

So let’s answer the obvious question… What does meek mean?

Main Entry: meek

Pronunciation: \ˈmēk\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse mjūkr gentle; akin to Welsh esmwyth soft

Date: 13th century

1 : enduring injury with patience and without resentment

How cool is that? From the Viking’s word for GENTLE and the Celt’s word for SOFT. Gentle and soft; a gentleman or a gentlewoman… or a soft-hearted person. So, meek does not mean weak. Meek does not mean timid. Meekness really comes out of compassion and concern for others, not self-centeredness.

And, praytell, who endured injury beyond comprehension with total patience and with no capacity for resentment? Yessir… Jesus Christ! I’ll tell you right now, a natural man is not one who can endure any form of injury with patience AND without resentment. Such wonderful traits must be provided for from on high.

Need an example of meekness? Just think of Jesus when He cleared out the temple of greedy businessmen by Himself… no wimp could have done that. Then, fast forward to our same gracious Savior hanging as a bloody pulp up on that cross…

Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…

Friends, who could be more worthy to be called Lord? Now let’s consider the second part of the beatitude, “..they shall inherit the earth.”

Oh this is good! Remember the thought of the redeemed being more like Christ? Well, who do you suppose really owns the title deed to the earth?

Revelation 5:7
And He (Jesus) went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him (God the Father) who was seated on the throne.

If Jesus owns the earth, how will those He redeemed inherit it too?

Galatians 4:7
… you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

How is all of this possible? Jesus prayed to God the Father that it would be this way…

John 17:24
Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

What wonderful love our Lord has for those who name the name of Christ!

Okay… gotta go!  

**Comments/ questions/ affirmations/ objections most encouraged!

Dear Lord, thank you for this time to consider Your word and Your ways. May our thoughts, words, and deeds bring You glory… and glory to You alone. –Amen

Peace,
Jim