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I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
Jesus was meek and lowly in heart. Meekness is softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations. It is the opposite of rudeness or hatefulness. You can make a statement in different ways. You can say; "don’t slam the door!" or you can say; "Close the door quietly please."
Meekness means nonresistance. When Judas came up to Jesus, in the Garden, and kissed him, Peter took out his sword and cut off a soldier’s ear. Jesus told Peter to put up his sword because; they that live by the sword will die by the sword. Jesus then picked up the soldier’s ear and put it back on his head. Jesus told Peter that he could have called twelve legions of angles. One legion is 6,000. Jesus wanted to be submissive to whatever God wanted.
And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56
Meekness does not retaliate. Jesus was not out to get even. That is not God’s way. If you have a “get even” spirit, that is not the spirit of God. It is a spirit of the enemy and you need to ask God to forgive you and help you. The saints should have meekness and forbearance.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28
It doesn’t say, go and tell everybody how they have treated you. But it says bless them that curse you. It is totally different than having vengeance. Jesus’ way was a nonresistant way.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.Acts 7:57-60
Meekness is ready to forgive. None of us like to be hit. These people got angry and offended at Stephen because of the truth that he preached to them. They picked up stones and threw them at him. Stephen knelt down and prayed. He didn’t ask God to take revenge on them, but rather, to forgive them. He displayed a lowly and meek spirit. He commended himself to God.
The meekness that Jesus and Stephen had was because of the gospel. If a thief breaks into your house to destroy your things, you have a right to protect yourself. That is not for the gospel. But, if things come against you for the gospel’s sake, you need to be meek. We don’t act the same way they are acting towards us.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.Luke 6:31
Meekness is not easily inclined to anger. Sometimes you will not feel like treating someone like you want to be treated. That is the time that you need to go aside and pray and ask God for grace to stay sweet when you feel otherwise.
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:3-4
In the eyes of God, a meek and quiet spirit is as a great price. But is has to be first on the inside. If you dress modestly and meekly but never develop a meek and quiet spirit on the inside, something else will come out when things don’t go your way. Meekness needs to be an ornament that people should be able to see on your everyday living.
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