This is the third blog in my series on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-7. This week we move on to Matthew 5:5:
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
What does it mean to be meek? Strong’s concordance defines meek in this verse as mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit. People often view meek as weak-willed, someone you can easily walk over. Yet true meekness isn’t weak at all. True meekness is power under control.
Jesus is our example of meek. He was kind and gentle, but forceful when He needed to be. He was gentle toward the lost—those who didn’t know God, but harsh toward the Pharisees—those who claimed to know God but didn’t have a relationship with Him.
I think we often do the opposite. We are harsh toward the world, but we close our eyes to the sins within the body of Christ. As a result, we push the world away by our judgment, and ruin our testimony by our hypocrisy.
The Body of Christ
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you.’”
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Earlier in verse 6, Paul wrote, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”
Closing our eyes to the sins within the church contaminates the body of Christ and hinders us from reaching the world. This is why Satan endeavors to lure us into sin. He can’t take our salvation, but he can ruin our testimony and hinder the Holy Spirit from using us to impact the rest of the world.
Does this mean we start looking at our brothers and sisters through a magnifying glass, expelling them as soon as they fall?
No. Jesus said to first take the plank out of our own eye, and then we will see clearly to remove the speck from our brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5).
We first need to work with God in the areas that hinder our testimony. As we allow God to draw us closer to Him and sanctify us, He will lead us to confront and help our brothers and sisters who are caught in sin.
When it’s time to confront someone, we need to do it in meekness and love so we don’t also fall into sin.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
As Christians, we especially need to set high standards for those in leadership positions because those of us who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). If you run a ministry, you need to confront your leaders if the Holy Spirit is showing you they are caught in sin. Don’t turn a blind eye, because you’ll only be inviting the enemy in to destroy your ministry and affect those you are teaching.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:15-16
As we follow God’s leadership and set high standards within the body of Christ, according to God's Word, God can use us to powerfully impact the world.
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:21-22
Reaching the World
I think sometimes we get too comfortable in the church, being around other believers, that we forget we are called to reach the world.
When I first started following Christ, I attended a National Day of Prayer ceremony. I had never been to a prayer ceremony before. I was nervous to go alone, but eager to meet and pray with other believers.
There were around thirty or forty people at the ceremony. When the time came to pray, the leader asked us to break off into small groups. I turned to join the people on my right, but they turned away and made a circle with their friends. I turned to join the people on my left, but they also turned away and made a circle with their friends. I looked around to find someone to pray with, but everyone else had formed groups with their friends as well. The event went on for over an hour and no one ever acknowledged me standing alone.
I remember thinking that I hope I never get so comfortable with my Christian walk that I don’t notice the people around me. If I hadn’t already accepted Christ and tasted the Lord’s goodness, I might have left that prayer meeting that day not wanting to be part of the Christian community.
“Whenever our Christian maturity becomes a hindrance to the Great Commission of Jesus, then our apparent progress is really no progress at all. We should care more about broken people as we climb, not less. Real Christian maturity is about loving, serving, and sacrificing, not about strutting through our world with a golden crown.”
Jesus didn’t ignore the broken and lost. He didn’t wait for them to come to Him for help. He sought them. He paid careful attention to the needs around Him. His life wasn’t consumed with His personal agendas. His life was focused on God, and He was ready to act the moment the Holy Spirit showed Him a need.
Jesus was truly meek as He humbled Himself and laid His life down to serve others. For His obedience, He received the greatest reward. When we lay down our lives, walk in obedience to God and serve others, we will also reap a reward.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
—Philippians 2:5-11
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for teaching us Your ways. Jesus, You said to take Your
yoke upon us and learn from You, for You are gentle and humble. We know that we
cannot acquire meekness on our own, so help us to draw close to You and learn
from You. Keep us from falling into sin so we can be a light to the world and direct them to You.
In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen!
*The Beatitudes series will continue next Tuesday.
I am a wife of
sixteen years, mother of four children, and author of “You Can Have a Happy
Family: Steps to Enjoying Your Marriage and Children” and two devotionals: “The LOVE Walk: A 15-Week Devotional on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8” and “Armor of Light: A 7-Week Devotional on Ephesians 6:10-18.” God has done an amazing work in me and my family
since He rescued me thirteen years ago. Because of His unfailing love, I am passionate
about sharing His love with others. You can learn more about my testimony and
writings on my blog (SharingTruths.com) and my website (AmandaBeth.net).
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36
- See more at: http://brostef.typepad.com/blog/2013/06/beautitudes-blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit.html#sthash.XpWHl9Dh.dpuf- See more at: http://brostef.typepad.com/blog/2013/06/beatitudes-blessed-are-those-who-mourn.html#sthash.8DPC5hTq.dpuf
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