Meekness needed for spiritual maturity . . .

 

God is teaching me that meekness (gentleness, kindness) is far more than the way I behave toward others. It is the attitude that produces that behavior, an attitude of realizing how deeply sin can control me if I do not choose to walk in the truth of God’s Word. Meekness flows out of deep humility.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

The Word of God was implanted or set within me at salvation. I received it and regarded it as true that Jesus died for my sin, I am forgiven and belong to Him. Yet that is only the beginning. Being saved is a one-time experience that goes on for the rest of my life until I see Jesus face-to-face. I was saved (like a soldier enlisted) and am being saved (like an enlisted person learning how to act like the solder she already is).

Even though the Word is implanted in me, James tells me to receive it, regard it as true, all of it. The ‘I’m going to heaven’ part is only the beginning of salvation. Included in the package is God’s power to save me from continuing to sin. For that, I must meekly put away, reject, refuse sin and welcome what God says as true.

Meekness is gentleness and humility displayed with integrity during times of trial, and the opposite of any proud sinfulness that insists on my way or continually makes excuses for disobedience. God says that this meekness should beautify my life. In other words, it is the inner attitude of heart that works the outward beauty of Christ in a person’s life. Meekness is very precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)

Meekness is all about walking in the Spirit, implanted at salvation. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13) and letting the Spirit be the source of who I am and how I live. “ . . . walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

Again, salvation begins with faith in Christ, and is also lived through faith in Christ. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6) I cannot save myself and I cannot sanctify myself. Salvation is all of Christ and fully realizing this requires humility. As today’s devotional says, God’s Word was implanted within me by the Holy Spirit at the time of my salvation. His Word and the Holy Spirit are my source of ongoing power and growth for my life in Christ. I am responsible to receive the Word in purity and humility so it can do its sanctifying work.

MacArthur likes to translate meekness as “teachability” because a meek person sets aside resentment, anger, and pride to learn God’s truth and apply it. Meekness is realizing what Jesus has done for me, knowing how much He loves me, and having a desire to love Him by obeying His commands (John 14:15). For this, I must desire to know what He wants from me and for this, I must deeply desire to read what He says:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16–17)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, more and more You show me the importance of being in the Word. Reading, studying, thinking about it, even talking about it, and especially letting it direct all my affairs. Even as You satisfy me each day with truth and encouragement, I never want to be satisfied to the point where I think I know it all. How foolish that would be. Thank You for Your incredible saving grace!

READ: Nehemiah 8. Who read God’s Word to the people? How did the people respond? Compare their response to the Word with mine.

 

 

How Losers Win . . .

Numbers 34; Psalm 78:40–72; Isaiah 26; 1 John 4

A daughter tells her pushy mother that she needs boundaries. A landowner tells his neighbor that the fence between them is pushing the property line. A little one tells her grandmother that the family dog keeps invading her space. A woman tells a group of teens to “get off my property.” Israel tells the countries around her that “this land is mine because God gave it to us.” Yes, Numbers describes the territory assigned to Israel with precisely defined borders.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders), your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east . . . .” (Numbers 34:1–3)

Who can count the wars that have been fought over the land that was marked out as belonging to God’s chosen people? But is the land God promised really about turf and turf wars? So much of the OT reveals the patterns of God — how He works is revealed in the history of His people.

For instance, The escape from bondage in Egypt is a literal illustration of spiritual salvation from the bondage of sin. The wandering in the wilderness illustrates the life of a believer who waffles concerning the commands of God and struggles against Him until all disobedience is replace with faith and then willingness to enter and fight the spiritual battles in that “land” or life of promise.

What about this description of boundaries? Was it a literal allotment yet with spiritual significance? Do those boundaries illustrate that I am free from bondage yet there are places I should not go and things I should not allow in my life? Certainly, God gives me boundaries for protection and that I might live for His glory. Does this mean that the nation of Israel, largely in a state of unbelief in their Messiah, still have a right to the land they claim? Or are they missing the spiritual significance in the reason for the allotment given so many centuries ago?

Yesterday’s church service makes me think how the teachings of Jesus were so contrary to His culture and to ours. He said things like “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) This poverty of spirit is the last thing anyone wanted. In their minds, the kingdom of heaven was won by keeping all the rules.

Jesus followed with, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) This is so contrary to their thinking and ours too. Gaining territory is about taking it, or at least inheriting from a previous owner and has nothing to do with meekness. Even that word is a turn-off because it suggests weakness, a doormat, and no one wants to be one of those.

However, meekness is not well-defined in our culture. The Greek word means ‘strength under control’ like a wild stallion that has been tamed and will do whatever his master wants. It is more about self-control of great power. Instead of going to war to get, grab and take, a meek person let’s others have, go first, be in charge. The Jews didn’t like that idea, nor do most people today. I feel uncomfortable with it too. Yet Jesus said it.

This beatitude as well as the others describe the way His followers think and act. It also describes the outcome of that way of life. Those powerful in religious zeal will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who realize there is nothing in them that deserves it will go into it. Those who are assertive and powerful will not inherit the earth, but those who are meek are promised it! Even though I must strive against spiritual evils to live for Jesus, I do not have to fight for anything else, including the ‘good life’ and including “the earth and the fullness thereof” for it is mine by letting God control me.

The idea that meekness is strength under control is still full of scary ‘what if’ questions such as how will others treat me? How will I behave in daily situations? Will I be misinterpreted? Will other Christians reject me? Will being like Jesus lead to persecution and death?

The bottom line is what Jesus said: “The meek shall inherit the earth.” The psalmist adds, “and delight themselves in abundant peace.” (Psalm 37:11) The ancient Israelites missed it because they tried to get it by their own efforts. Today’s ambitious people try to get it by war, wrangling, money, and manipulation, but Jesus said it happens for the meek. He calls me to live contrary to the world, to human reasoning, to what makes sense. The only application to all of this is abandoning my own understanding and yielding to Him in faith without fear.