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'Blessed are the gentle, the meek ...' Those who grasp for control lose it, those who give up control actually gain it. Read the third "beatitude" in Matthew 5:5. The third beatitude shocked the sensibilities of the typical religious Jew of Jesus' day. They expected a messiah who would assert control through military or miraculous means. But Jesus was the messiah who encouraged surrender of control through gentleness, or meekness. "Blessed are the gentle," Jesus said, "For they shall inherit the earth." The Lord Jesus Christ gave up control to God the father (Philippians 2:1-11) and encouraged his faithful followers to do the same. Such crucifixion of selfcontrol would ultimately gain a starry crown. Herein lays the secret of this beatitude for the Christian. "Blessed are the gentle (meek) ..." Though I love the NASB, the other major English translations use a better word than "gentle." They use "meek." However, to be meek in this biblical context is not, as some English dictionaries define it, "an absence of strength or courage." Meekness actually includes great strength and courage. But, it is absent of one thing - control. Jesus was strong (note his power over winds and waves, sickness and death). Our Lord was courageous (rebuking the Pharisees and cleansing the temple). But God the son forfeited all control of his life to God the father. A wild horse that is broken and bridled is still very strong, but no longer controls where it goes. Meekness is like that for the Christian.The power comes from God, not self. Meekness is God's controlled power working through you! Meekness begins with saving grace. Salvation belongs to the Lord (Jonah 2:9). God controls it and gives it to whom he pleases (Romans 9:18). The meek know that they did not deserve to be saved, did not deserve even a chance to be saved, and did not contribute one ounce of energy or effort to be saved. Salvation is God's power of the gospel put into the meek, who realize where it comes from, then therefore yield that power over to the hand of God. Meekness is proven by serving grace. The grace that makes you saved is the grace that motivates you to serve. Like the "Andy Griff-ith" episode in which Gomer Pyle could not do enough for Andy after Andy saved his life, so the Christian meekly cannot do enough for the Christ who saved his soul. Meekness follows the blind faith of Proverbs 3:5-6. It is the blunt humility of Romans 7:18. It is the bold determination of Philippians 4:13. It is the blessedness of this beatitude in Matthew 5:5. It is the strength to willingly worship and work for the master and savior Jesus Christ. Meekness is put to the test by suffering grace. Meekness doesn't go away when the going gets tough. Jesus did not deserve to suffer, but in meekness endured it. Moses was the meekest man in the Old Testament. The apostle Paul was the meek hero of the New Testament. Reformers who were burned at the stake for championing scripture meekly gave their lives for Christ. I submit to you today that those who yield control of their lives to Jesus rather than calling their own shots will be shot at in some form or fashion. But grace and meekness leads them on. "... for they shall inherit the earth." A better word for "inherit" is simply "share" as a "joint-heir" (Romans 8:17). When we give up control of our lives for Christ, he allows us to gain a better life. It is an infinitely better life here and in the hereafter (John 3:16 and 10:10). By giving up control we can gain something that present power and money cannot buy. Christian meekness makes your present place on earth a very great reward. Yielding to the sovereign control of God is the only thing that grants true present contentment (Jere-miah Burrough's Rare Jewel of Christian Content-ment). I used to come across an old friend name Henry and ask him, "How are you doing?" His reply was always, "Better than I deserve." That's meekness. When we realize we don't deserve anything we appreciate everything. Christ has promised his children everything on earth we need to do his will. So, in meekness, if God's will is your ocean then the earth is your oyster. Enjoy!
Christian meekness makes you a promise of an even greater reward. It contains the promise not only of present contentment, but also of future dominion. Right now there are many people vying for the power to rule the country, the world, sometimes even outer space. I cannot tell you who will win the next election, or what country may rise to become the next super power, but I can tell you who will one day rule the world and transform it into a new and better place - Jesus Christ! And, I can tell you that those who don't want him ruling over them now will be utterly destroyed then. But, those who meekly submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ now, will rule and reign with him forever and ever. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
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