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(Presented by Lisa Bishop)
When you hear the word meek, what comes to mind? Do you think weak? Timid? Being a doormat?
In Ephesians 4:2 the Apostle Paul’s call to walk worthy of our calling in Christ includes meekness.
Actually in most translations of this verse we see the word gentle, but the word gentle and meek are both translations of the Greek word praus (prowse) which means mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness.
We see this same Greek word used in the familiar sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:5 when Jesus says, “Blessed are the prowse – the meek, the gentle – for they shall inherit the earth.”
Matthew 11:29 says “Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (prowse) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Since Jesus is our example and we are called to follow and image him, that means we follow his lead in gentleness and meekness.
So what does it mean to be gentle, to be meek? We know that Jesus was not a pushover. He had some pretty poignant and convicting things to say in his lifetime. He was not all rainbows and butterflies but he did model strength under control, and that is meekness. When he became angry it was at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason.
I would suffice to say that a majority of us do not have the level of constraint or strength under control when we come face to face with a co-worker that has gotten on our last nerve, or when we work for an overly demanding boss or with an unreliable team member. Our tendency can be to lash out. To lose our temper when we are driven to the edge.
To see another portrait of meekness we can look to James 1:19–21 which says, “Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.” I once heard it said that “meekness is the power to absorb adversity and criticism without lashing back.”
How and with whom will you demonstrate meekness? Where will you display gentleness and live in the likeness of Jesus?
What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you! (Matthew 5:5 The Message)