Blessed Are the Meek

by Julie Zine Coleman Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? Hebrews 12:9 NASB My husband Steve was on his way to Bible class, walking behind his favorite and well-respected professor, who shuffled painfully down the walkway. A fellow student came running by, on the run from a fellow student playing a prank on him. When he risked a quick look backward, the guy smacked right into the elderly teacher, knocking him to the ground. Everyone on the sidewalk froze in horror. But the old man slowly picked himself up, and with a look of chagrin, faced his offender. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I  must have zigged when you had zagged.” Did the professor have the right to be angry at the careless boy? Surely he deserved more respect than his student had afforded him; he was faculty, after all. In light of the old man’s physical limitations, the offense was even more egregious. I’m guessing that none of the witnesses there would have had trouble with the professor responding to the boy’s carelessness with anger. But the teacher chose to submit himself to the needs of the student. He forgave without even being asked, and bore the fault of the incident as his own. Ironically, his humility was a far more profound lesson to all of all who witnessed the scene than if he had responded in anger. For Steve, it was an unforgettable lesson in meekness. The same meekness once attributed to Moses, who is said in Scripture to be the “meekest man on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3 ASV). In the Scriptural narrative of Moses’ life, we frequently can find the commentary: “Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him” (Exodus 40:16, Numbers 27:22 NIV, for example). Please note: meekness is not a door-mat mentality. It is a decision to voluntarily place our power under the constraining hand of our Heavenly Father. It is putting God’s purposes above our own, willing to do whatever it takes to be selflessly obedient. When we do so, we align ourselves with His agenda. We’re never sorry when we choose God’s way. He will reward our determination to put ourselves aside for the good of the other. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5 NIV). Lord, help me to choose to respond to offences with meekness, putting the other’s need above my angry reaction. I want to remember that Jesus modeled meekness for us as He willingly died for the people who hated Him most. Amen. This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).

About the author: Julie Zine Coleman helps others to understand and know an unexpected God. A popular conference and retreat speaker, she holds an M.A. in biblical studies. Julie is the managing editor for Arise Daily. When she is not glaring at her computer, she spends time with her grandchildren, gardening, or crafting. More on Julie can be found at her new website JulieZineColeman.com and Facebook.

Many Christian women are torn between the church’s traditional teachings on gender roles and the liberty they experience in secular society. But what if the church’s conventional interpretations aren’t really biblical at all? Julie’s new book, On Purpose, is a careful study of the passages in the Bible often interpreted to limit women in the church, at home, or in the workplace. Each chapter reveals timeless biblical principles that actually teach freedom, not limitation. On Purpose was recently named the Golden Scrolls 2022 Book of the Year. Join the conversation: Have you witnessed someone choosing meekness? Please share!  

Advertisement