Advent Alphabet - "M" - "Meek"

“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble, lowly in heart, and you will find rest, refreshment, and blessed quietness for your souls.” We do not use the word meek anymore because it has taken on the opposite meaning from the true meaning. Some who do not understand the meaning of being “meek” thinks it means to be “spineless,” weak, Mr. Milk-Toast, or being a coward. Actually, the true meaning is very different. Webster’s first definition of meekness is: “Enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” The Hebrew and Greek meanings are about the same: “Mild, gentle, and lowly (in spirit)” I heard one definition, which I like is, “meekness is power under control.” The illustration of this definition that was given with this definition was, “a bridled horse.” The horse has great power of itself, but when bridled its power comes under control of the handler. It no longer acts and does as it wishes, but must come and go and perform just as the one controlling the bridle directs. The horse and bridle picture is not completely, nor perfectly analogous of the relationship of the Father and Son picture. The horse has no choice but to obey the directives of the bridle or be in great pain and even injury, but Jesus had chosen to do the Father’s will and even said, “I have come to do the will of my Father” (Jn.6:38). Jesus came into this world under control of the Father, both as a baby and as an adult man, who chose to obey the directives of Father. He knew the Father’s will before coming to earth, and He chose to do His will – this is meekness! In heaven Jesus was the omnipotent God, but when He came to earth He chose to “bring His power under the control” of His will as a man. He lived in a spirit of gentleness – this is meekness. “When He was insulted, He did not offer insult in return. He was abused and suffered, he made no threat of vengeance; but He trusted Himself and everything to Him Who judges fairly (I Peter 2:21). We too must choose to bring the power we have of free will and choice under the control of the Holy Spirit Who wants to control our lives, so we must seek and bow to His will in all things - He gives us many promises when we do. We must not be like the lady in Zephaniah 2:3 who was the epitome of the opposite of meekness. “She did not listen to and heed the voice of God; she accepted no correction or instruction; she did not trust in the Lord or was not confident in Him, but was confident in her own wealth; she did not draw near to God, but to the god of Baal or Molech.” The Lord gives us some promises to those who are meek: 1) He will lead the meek in what is right, and teaches them His way (Ps.25:9). 2) In the end the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Ps.37:11). 3) He lifts up the meek and downtrodden; He casts the wicked to the ground (Ps.147:6). 4) The Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation and victory (Ps.149:4). 5) The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord (Isaiah 29:10). 6) Blessed (joyous) are the meek (the patient and long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth (Mt.5:5). So if you are a believer, who is trusting in the Lord, and walking in the Holy Spirit, you will have the power to be meek (Gal.5:23). Just as the Holy Spirit lived in, and controlled Jesus, and was meek, you can be meek. Do you want to be like Jesus? O To Be Like Thee! (Thomas O. Chisholm) O to be like You! Full of compassion, loving, forgiving, tender and kind, helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, seeking the wandering sinner to find. O to be like You! O to be like You, blessed Redeemer, pure as You are! Come in Your sweetness, come in Your fullness. Stamp Your own image deep on my heart.