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Meek or
Meekness
Sadly, especially for males, the words spoken by
Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount...among the beatitudes...are often a turn-off, at least
about the meek inheriting the earth. The word from Jesus in the King James translation
of the Bible for bridled strength is meek. When I think of my partner, strong and as
unrelenting toward a worthy goal as the movement of a glacial ice mass, yet talent, skill,
authority, and strength personified (yet wonderfully and unfailingly bridled), I see
the real meaning of meekness. I really like the following explanation of meekness by Rev.
Tony Evans in his free monthly devotional booklet, "Today's Alternative", for May/June 2002,
p33:
"The idea of meekness or gentleness is one of the
most misunderstood concepts in the Bible. To most people, meekness or gentleness is a
cowering timidity, a synonym for weakness."
"Of course, the fact that Jesus referred to
Himself as gentle ought to put an end to that idea: 'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.' (Matthew 11:29)
The Savior was neither cowering or weak."
"It's helpful to understand that this word
gentleness [meekness in the KJV] was also used to describe a wild horse that had been
brought under control. A wild horse doesn't do anybody any good because it will buck its
rider off, refuse a bit and bridle, and fight against a saddle or harness."
"But when a powerful, wild horse has been tamed by
a skilled trainer, it can be ridden or harnessed. The animal is still as strong as it was
when it was wild, but that strength is [now] under control."
"Similarly, a person of gentleness is one whom God
has trained and brought into His service. Gentleness is the ability to love when you feel
like hating, to forgive when you feel like getting revenge. Its the ability to submit to the
will of God even when that's not your natural propensity."
"The promise to gentle
people is that they will inherit the earth: 'Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the
earth.'"
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