Friday 24 November 2017

Meekness

Scripture: Psalm 25 v 9 - 10:  "The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."

Meekness must never be confused with weakness. The two meekest men ever born were Jesus Christ and Moses. They were mighty Deliverers sent to rescue God's people from their troubles.

Meekness means our strength and talents are under God's control. We don't brag on our prowess or abilities but give the credit where it is due, to Jesus the Creator of all things, who made God's Word a reality. 

The Lord will guide the meek in judgment of other men's deeds. He knows the truth of every situation and all we need do is ask Him to show us truth from error. Ask and you shall receive.  High up in the Alps on the very narrow trails it is impossible for two goats to pass each other.  One of the goats has to lie down so the other can walk over him.

Christian humility is like this too.  There are times when a stalemate or impasse occurs in a situation, relationship, battle of wills.  It becomes necessary to be humble and take the blame even if its not your fault.  Jesus took the blame for us.  He laid down His life for us to walk over His body into the Kingdom of God.

What does He require from us in return?  That we turn our backs on the world and on our sinful behaviour.  That we commit our lives to do His will for us.  That we sacrifice those habits or things that offend Him and present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.  This means we swap our human rights for His divine rights.  We are no longer part of the human race anyway, we are born again a new creation that conforms to the body of Jesus.

The meek will He teach His way. In every thing we do there is God's way, our way and satan's way. Our way leans in one of two possible directions - God's way or satan's way. The meek will let God direct their paths; the proud will go in the way of error. They will shun God's counsel as weak and inferior to their own. Even when they fail they will not seek God's help.  Proud, stubborn and self-willed people who always determine to get their own way and when they do its a hollow victory.

God honours those who keep His covenant and testimonies. God's covenant Will and testimonies are written for man in the Holy Bible. We cannot faithfully observe His commands unless we actually read them ourselves. Any will only becomes valid after the testator dies. The New Covenant became valid for Christians when Jesus died. At the Last Supper He took the Cup and said This is the New covenant in My blood.

Joshua 1 v 7 - 8: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 
 8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

The Law represents the Old Covenant with the Jewish people which if they obeyed it would give them prosperity and success.  Those who kept the Law and believed in the coming Messiah were kept after death in Paradise, a compartment of Hell, where Jesus came to fetch them after His death.  He told the meek thief on the Cross next to His, today you will be with Me in Paradise.  Then the New Covenant in His Blood begins.

His testimonies are true. Every word written about God's love for us and all his great promises are true. There are 333 prophecies in the Old Testament, recorded by 44 writers over 2500 years, that were fulfilled in one person, Jesus Christ. He is God the Son. If you believe in Him and follow His Word you will have everlasting life. 

Prayer: Father God, I believe with my whole heart that Jesus is your Son whose shed Blood cleansed my every sin. I put my feeble strength in His mighty hands to be guided and taught by His infinite wisdom and love.  I meekly submit to Your will for my life because Your plan is for my eternal good.  In Jesus' name. Amen.