Jesus 101: Under Control


In his third beatitude, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  

"Meek" is one of the most misunderstood words in the Bible.  When I think of "meek," I think of Clark Kent.  Superman's secret identity.  Apparently Superman thought it would be good to choose an alter-ego who was the opposite of himself.  Clark Kent is a meek, mild-mannered reporter for "The Daily Planet" who speaks softly and runs from danger.

But the Greek word for "meek" in this passage doesn't describe someone who's shy and cowardly.  Instead, to refers to people who have their power under control.  

So when you think of "meek," think of Superman, not Clark Kent!  Superman is extremely power, but he's disciplined in the exercise of it.  He could tear people apart, but he chooses not to kill.

Two people described by the Bible as meek fit this idea: Moses and Jesus.  Numbers 12:1ff describes Moses as the meekest of people.  Yet he had the strength and courage to stand before Pharaoh and say, "God says, 'Let my people go!'"  Jesus described himself as meek (Matthew 11:28-30), yet he stood before Pilate and told him God was in control, not the Roman government.

Writers used the Greek word for "meek" to describe tamed horses.  So you could say that the meek are those who wear God's bridle, who are under his power and control.  

When you think about it, we all wear a bridle of some kind or another.  It could be a bridle of ego, or greed, or lust, or power, or many other things.  But those who wear God's bridle, who come under his discipline, inherit the earth.  They will be eternal citizens of God's kingdom.  

Put on God's bridle, come under his discipline, and see how he makes you more effective than ever!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God's Dynamite: The Battle Within

Image
"It was on fire when I lay down on it."  Robert Fulghum wrote about reading this statement in a small town newspaper.   Smoke was billowing from a second story window.  The Fire Department arrived, broke down the front door, ran up a set of stairs, and pulled a man off a burning bed.  Later, when they asked him how he got in that predicament, he said, "It was on fire when I lay down on it." Why on earth did he do that?  We don't know, but his story reveals a human truth.  We often do self-destructive things.  We testify, "People told me not to do it, but I did it anyway."  "I knew it was wrong, but I did it." The apostle Paul wrote about our human propensity to sin and self-destructive behavior in Romans 7:14-25.  Verse 15 sums up his point, "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do and what I hate I do."   He describes an intense inner battle.  On one side is the "flesh," his
Read more

God's Dynamite: More than Conquerors

Image
One person goes through a terrible experience and emerges from it stronger, more mature, and more loving.  Another goes through a similar experience and emerges from it weaker, less mature, and bitter.   What's the difference? I think it has to do with what's in the person's heart.  It has to do with his or her faith and perspective of life.   In Romans 8:35-39, the apostle Paul asked, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?''  Is there any person or place or experience that can remove us from Christ's loving presence?  Trouble? Hardship? Danger?  Sword? Paul could answer this question because he experienced all the above and more.  He said, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  We conquer all these things through Christ's love for us. To be sure, we can have times when Christ's love seems far away from us. In the depths of suffering in times like these, we can won
Read more

God's Dynamite: Resurrection Transformation

Image
Easter is about more than you going to heaven.  That's part of it, but not near all!  It's about your death and resurrection. In Romans 6, Paul was answering opponents.  Those opponents said that if salvation is by God's grace through faith, then you have no motivation for righteous living and good works.  Why not sin more to get more grace? Paul answered by using the image of baptism.  He said when the pastor plunged you under water, he symbolized your death in Christ.  Through faith you died on the cross with Jesus.  Your old self was a slave to sin and rebellion against God.   Paul said when the pastor raised you up from the water, he symbolized your resurrection in Christ.  Not just in the future but in the present.  In faith, you identify with Jesus' death and his resurrection.  You're raised to a new life, free from slavery to sin. So Easter is about more than personal salvation.  It's about transformation: dying to an old life and ris
Read more