We have survived Valentines Day and are now wondering what is to come next? In my mind, once you get to Presidents Day weekend spring has to be right around the corner. And does it even matter? I think that depends on where you are living at the time. In Texas, I have no problem with winter. It’s been anywhere from the 50’s to the 80’s like it is today.
That’s enough about Spring it will be here soon enough and then we can start complaining about the heat instead of the cold. Complaining, that’s an interesting word in our culture today. For some, they complain because they don’t seem to have enough or they complain that someone else has too much. Have you been complaining lately? Do you know someone who has? I’m sure we can all point a finger at someone like that but be careful if you do that and you are standing in front of a mirror.
As we continue our journey from here to there and we are looking at what Jesus was talking about in his sermon on the mount and how Paul seemed to pull together with its proof of how we know if we are thinking and acting. We are looking at nine things that Jesus said that if we follow we will be able to experience Heaven here on Earth.
So far we have looked at what it means to gain the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore experience true love. and be comforted in order to know what true joy is all about. Today, let’s take a look at what it takes to inherit the earth. You already know that in order for you to inherit something it has to be left to you by your father or mother. (or some rich uncle you never knew about…..) So what does it take to inherit the earth and do I really want it? The answer is, of course, you want it, we all want it in some form or fashion or another and to some degree or other. Some want more and some a little less but if we are truly honest with ourselves we all want to have something but is meekness what we are striving for?
Jesus tells us that people are blessed when they are meek because they are going to inherit the earth. Paul later tells us that if we are willing to make the journey from here to there we will also then have peace. You know you want peace. As with all things, you can’t have one without the other. You and I see people every day who think they are going to rule the world and in order to do so, they will step on anything and anyone to get there. You also know that you don’t really want to hang with them or be with them because there is no room for you. If you really look close to their lives you will also know that no matter who they are if they are looking to rule this world they don’t know the meaning of the word peace. I don’t care if your Buffet, Trump, Obama, or Gates. If you are put into a position of power and are not willing to lead with God’s plan for your life you will never experience peace. We also would rather hang with someone and follow someone who is meek rather than me first. In the end, it always works that way.
Do you know how to have true peace? The first step is to know who can give you peace, true peace. To start with you will need to know one person. That person is Jesus Christ. The first step to peace is a relationship with Jesus and then the next step is yours. Step two, is meekness, truly knowing what it means to be meek, not the fake stuff we throw around like a cheap toy. Hey look at me I’m meek. (by the way if you say that you’re not meek or humble)
M J Wilkins has this to say about being meek “The domineering, the aggressive, the harsh, and the tyrannical are often those who attempt to dominate the earth and establish their own little kingdoms. But Jesus says that it is the “gentle” who will inherit the earth, harking back to the psalmist who encourages those who have been treated harshly by evildoers (Ps. 37:9, 11)“For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” And “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”
Don’t confuse meekness with weakness. To be meek will take much more strength than it does to try and dominate. To be gentle implies a great deal of restraint. You and I both know if you turn on the TV or even have a conversation with a friend it doesn’t take long to realize that no one really knows how to be gentle anymore. What do you think would happen if our government in Washington DC would talk and act with a level of restraint and gentleness? What about in your own family? What would it look like if we didn’t all just always say what we think or feel or know? Instead, what if we both listened more than we talked and we thought a little more than we spoke? But that’s only part of it. The real proof comes through an internal heart of being gentle (or meek). When you live this way you will know true peace.
Through my time in studying these topics, I have been looking into the resource of the NIV Application Commentary and thought they said it well in explaining about being meek and inheriting the earth. ““Jesus exemplifies best what it means to be gentle. It takes tremendous strength to bring others into God’s will, but when that strength is coupled with a selfless nonassertiveness, it produces a gentle person who can patiently endure much to bring about God’s purposes for his people. Such gentle persons “will inherit the earth.” Jesus assumes this gentle posture as he preaches good news, proclaims freedom, and announces the arrival of the Lord’s favor, and blessed are those who do not take offence at his gentle messianic ministry. Ultimately this points to the reign of Christ on this earth, but even now Jesus’ disciples have entered into their spiritual inheritance.”
To wrap up today we need to know this: Meekness (or being gentle in all things) = inherit the earth. The byproduct of this kind of life is peace. The biggest secret to this life is to trust that what God has planned for you is both the right thing and enough. Today I am asking you to take a step back and evaluate what you are doing and why you are doing it. Whose kingdom are you trying to build……yours or God’s? Try God’s and see what kind of peace shows up
Next stop on the journey from here to there: Being hungry in order to be full
ETHOS 4 LIFE 