Blessed are the meek

The flower shown here is a Purple Winecup. The flowers open during the light of day and close up at night. "We are like these vibrant flowers. We bloom when we turn our faces to God’s light. But we wither in the darkness. His light alone makes us glorious." -- Lynda Young

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." We are in the series of Jesus' eight secrets for happy living. In the Bible, "meek" does not mean wimpy, pushover, milktoast. Meekness means strength under control. Jesus said, "Happy are those who don't over react to people." Five ways to work on your reactions:

1. When someone serves you, be understanding not demanding. Philippians 2:4-5 "Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ's."

How do you treat people who serve you? Waitresses, secretaries, clerks, tellers at the bank, fast food operators. Are you understanding or demanding?

2. When somebody disappoints you, be gentle and not judgmental. How do you react when somebody messes up his life? Do you get excited about it: "I told you so! I could see it coming! Only a fool would have done that. I wouldn't have been that dumb."

Do you have a secret sense of satisfaction when other people blow it? Meekness is when people disappoint you, you are gentle, not judgmental.

The one thing that angered Jesus most, more than anything else in life, was self-righteous religious people who were always judging others.

3. When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender. Meekness is not compromising your convictions. You can be tender without surrender. It's not being passive, being a doormat, giving in, always letting the other person have their own way. That's not meekness; that is weakness.

Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer quiets anger; but a harsh word stirs it up."

2 Tim. 2:24-25 says meekness is a qualification for spiritual leadership, "The Lord's servant must not quarrel... those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in hope that God will give them a change of heart." 

4. When someone corrects you, be teachable -- not unreachable. Meekness is a teachable spirit. Meek people are eager to learn. Meek people don't pretend they know it all. They know they don't know it all and they don't try to pretend they know it all.

5. When somebody hurts you, be an actor not a reactor. When someone hurts you, how do you respond? Do you immediately think "Revenge"?  Some of us are so good at thinking up creative strategies for revenge.

To retaliate is to "react."

But to respond with forgiveness, even when they haven't asked for it, is to act, to take the
initiative.  Don't let others control your emotions. This is a sign of weakness. To react is giving up control.

Respond as Moses did: "God, I'm going to let you take care of this."  This is how to "act," rather than "react."

I hope you have a wonderful new week.

My inspiration for this mini-sermon comes from Rev. Rick Warren.