It is about living the Sermon on the Mount. Not just reading it and going, “mmmmhmmm, yeah okay, I get it” It is actually, practically, taking those steps to live what Jesus taught.
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I for one really struggle with the third one. Always have.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
What does it mean to be meek? Definition please!
Quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive
Uuhoh…humility is calling, and God wants me to step up to the plate.
Here’s another definition… enduring injury with patience and without resentment
I think that enduring injury with patience and without resentment takes more than just humility, it takes a whole lot of grace too.
Can redheads be quiet? Easily imposed on? Submissive?!?! Better yet, Can I?
If you were to ask either of my brothers a couple of years ago, the answer would have been a clear, concise, and resounding NO!
1Peter 5:5
….Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Luckily for me my Father in heaven sees the potential that I have. As Michelangelo once so aptly said ““I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” I feel like that is what God is doing to me. He sees my willingness to be changed into the person that I was created to be, and my desire for personal and spiritual growth. I actually look forward to the life lessons that He has for me, chipping off all the junk to reveal my true identity.
I believe that meekness and grace go hand in hand. Without humility there is absolutely no way we would be able to show grace. I thank God for creating in me an eagerness for change and growth.
Philippians 2:3-4
3 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.
That’s what this journey is all about, it’s about putting the needs of others above my own personal interests. It’s about serving others rather than serving myself. Loving and giving my time and resources for the good of others. It is about meekness.
And I thank God for the opportunity; I thank Him for teaching me that I am not the most important person, even though I sometimes act like I am, I thank Him for opening up my heart to the love and correction that He has for me, and I thank Him for allowing me to be a part of something so much bigger than myself.
