Meek Is Not Weak

The bible says the meek shall inherit the earth. (Mat.5:5) For a long time I had the wrong idea of what meek is. Like the world, I saw meekness as weakness. But this just isn't so. I now strive to be meek. I have to because it is a hard thing to be. It is in our human nature not to be so. Sin is everywhere. It is at our job, in our schools, even in our homes. Our own minds and bodies turn against us, drawing us into sin with urges and fleshly desires. I defy you to sit in front of a television set for half an hour and not see sin. (turn it on, comedian) For a lot of us, striving to be meek is difficult because the easiest path is the path of least resistance. More often than not, it is also the path to sin. That is why we must bond together in fellowship. We have to give each other encouragement and edify each other. (1 Th. 5:11) We must help each other in times of need and when we falter. Like my friend, Pastor Irv Cobb once told me, "We're Christians, that's what we do." To be meek is not to be weak. It takes great strength to overcome pride. It takes a lot of courage to be willing to suffer humility. But to be humble, we have to suffer humility. Turning the other cheek is hard. Turning the other cheek and being glad that you did it is harder still. Turning the other cheek and loving the person who smites you is one of the hardest things you will ever do. And yet, Christ did this for us a hundredfold so that we might see the glory of the Father in heaven. In Christ we see the greatest example of humility and strength. If we come together as a Christian family, encouraging and edifying one another, then we can draw strength from our unity. Then we can glorify our Lord by being the type of persons He wants us to be. Not overcoming the world by worldly means, but by the power vested to us by the Word of God. To be meek is not to be weak. To be meek is to be strong. Strong in the conviction that our Savior suffered and died for us so that we may see what true strength really is.

It takes a lot of strength and courage to be meek and humble. I am a very proud and strong willed person. I am also very stubborn. Like a lot of people, it is hard for me to swallow my pride and do the Christian thing. But God gives me the strength to humble myself and the wisdom to be the kind of person that glorifies Him. In the eyes of the world, being humble and meek is a sign of weakness. In the eyes of God, it is a sign of love, strength and compassion.

Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (ESV)

1Th 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)