Devotional 4-3-09

Meek
(To Be, or Not to Be)
Please read Matthew 5:3—7:27

This scripture recorded as Jesus’ words is now commonly known as The Sermon on the Mount. His audience lived under the tyranny of Roman soldiers. They were largely ignored by their spiritual leaders (who had formed an uneasy alliance with the conquerors). They sought acknowledgement…attention…hope! What they had heard from Jesus changed their lives and they clamored for more!

After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the Disciples and other believers acknowledged him as the Son of God and quickly spread the word. What we now recognize as the Christian Movement was born. The New Testament—beyond the gospels—is devoted to scholars and writers interpreting, expanding, and teaching what they have seen and heard. Because believers are always seeking a better understanding and because language changes over time, scholars are still at it over 2000 years later.

Jesus’ sermon opens with what is now known as The Beatitudes—a recitation of the preferred behavior and the accompanying spiritual recognition; each begins with the word “blessed.” Modern scholars interpret it more nearly as “how happy will be” or “will be close to God.” Matthew 5:3 proclaims “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Meek. Who wants to be meek? Everyone knows the meek are impugned, mocked, vilified…they are the losers in the lottery of life! That’s a worldly definition , but the MEEK are not so…in the Biblical meaning. According to scholars, Jesus was describing something completely different. The MEEK, as Jesus defines them, are those who trust in God, who are openly committed to God, who show strength by remaining steadfast in aggressively seeking God’s will for their lives. In the context of the scripture, the MEEK are not those who timidly cower and fade into obscurity.

Easter approaches, when we will once again celebrate the cross where the Son of God suffered, died, and rose again, absolved us of our sins, and—through grace alone—offers us eternal life. This is surely a time when each of us will examine our spiritual condition. Perhaps we should follow with a personal question: Am I MEEK? Or am I meek?

Anonymous

Mission Reponse and Prayer Focus
April 2: Knitting is therapeutic for a lot of people. Share the warmth by giving a penny for every skein of yarn you have. (Yarn is used in their child center).