Matthew 5:5
I'd like to start this week by giving thanks to the Lord for providing me with some good writing opportunities. Please keep praying that I can find enough work to get back on my feet again.
Let us also continue to remember in prayer those affected by Hurricane Sandy. The last I heard, there were still a few places where the power was still out.
One last prayer request regards the tension in the Middle East. With the renewal of strife between Israel and the Palestinians, let us pray for peace in this troubled region of the world.
In last weeks message, I focused on Jesus' statement, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." All of us experience trying times, loss and sadness in this life. Christians aren't exempt. However, when Jesus returns in power and great glory, our sorrow will be turned to gladness.
I don't know about your individual circumstances. I can only speak for myself when I say that I've had enough sorrow in my life to last an eternity. I really look forward to the day when I can be reunited with my family on that day when the Lord will wipe away every tear from our eyes. I want to enter into the fullness of the joy of the Lord.
In today's message, we come to the beatitude that is probably the most misunderstood and the one that is the most ridiculed by those who don't believe in Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
I've heard many skeptics ridicule this verse and say that Jesus couldn't have gotten it any more wrong. The meek don't inherit the earth. The meek are the ones who are ground down under the foot of the oppressor. If you don't fight back or fight to get what is yours, you will never get anywhere in life.
Another verse that we will come to later in our study of the Sermon on the Mount is ridiculed in the same way. That is the verse where Jesus tells His followers to turn the other cheek and not retaliate against those persecuting you.
The first thing that we need to understand is that the wisdom of God will often seem like foolishness to the unregenerate person because their thinking is clouded by a sinful nature. They can't see things from God's perspective. The are walking through life with spiritual blinders on.
So, what are we to make of this verse? Who are the meek, and how will they inherit the earth?
The meek are those who have a humble heart and a gentle spirit. They pattern their life after the example lived out by the Lord Jesus Christ.
A person who is gentle and humble of heart does not live their life with selfish intentions. The main goal of their life is to find ways to be of service to others.
Jesus explained this when He taught His disciples about servant leadership. Jesus said that whoever would be the greatest in the kingdom of God would be the one that was the servant of all. Jesus gave us an example of humble service when He washed His disciples feet in the Upper Room.
Jesus displayed His gentle and humble heart when He left the riches of Heaven and took upon Himself human form. Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, "not my will, but thine be done." Then he walked up Calvary's mountain and died on the cross for the sins of the world.
Because of what Jesus has done, the Bible says that the Father has given Him a name above every name. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He will be King over all the earth.
Those who seek the path of Jesus will rule and reign with the Lord when He comes again. Those who imitate the humble heart of Jesus will inherit the earth. It will be an earth free from sin. It will be an earth filled with righteousness.
David wrote about the same idea in Psalm 37:11 where he said, "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace."
In Luke 1:52, Jesus' Mother echoes the same theme as her Son when she says, "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate."
The meek will inherit the earth. However, it won't be now. In the world we live in, people are not rewarded by society for living a life according to the principles of Jesus. As the Scriptures state, "Those who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
As Christians, we look to the ultimate outcome. Things won't always be the way that they are now. Jesus is coming, and His reward is with Him. On the day of His coming, the Lord will reward everyone of His followers according to what they have done.
If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, I hope that today you will make the decision to follow Christ. Jesus invites everyone to follow Him.
Next week is Thanksgiving here in the United States. I only have computer access at the library, and the library is going to be closed most of the week. So, next week I won't be able to post a sermon. I will be back with a sermon in two weeks. I may post a dog book review or two before then. May God bless you. Amen.
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