The next fruit of the Spirit we will look at is meekness. This daily devotional looks at meekness from a spiritual perspective, misconceptions about it, and benefits we receive.
Nuggets
- Meekness shows our relationship to God.
- A misconception about meekness is that meek people are weak.
- We are not only rewarded because of our weakness, but it also helps us in our interactions with others.
To read devotions in the Redo for Godliness series, click the appropriate button below.
Devotions in the Fruit of the Spirit from the Inside Out series
Okay, so I didn’t look ahead far enough when I started this series. We took kindness and gentleness together when we did gentleness.
Guess what popped up today?
So, we are going to go with the King James Version translation. Meekness is the next one up there.
Besides, that is the track all the sermons went.
Let's Put It into Context #1
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things” (Gal. 5: 22-23 CSB)
Here is a running list of what we’ve discussed previously.
Let's Put It into Context #2
Manning grouped the last two fruits of the spirit together. He wrote, “And then, lastly, there are certain fruits which have relation to ourselves. They are, first, modesty, ( = meekness?) which is both within and without — modesty of bearing, modesty of conduct, of dress, of demeanour, a chastened and sensitive regard for others, in all that is due from us to them, which keeps us from obtrusiveness, and from transgressing the delicate consideration which is their right.”
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Putting Meekness into Perspective
Meekness shows our relationship to God.
Murray reminded us that we need to consider meekness from a scriptural perspective.
This means we are meek in relation to God, not the world. Murray said that it is the “… state of mind or mood of soul which a man has toward his God.”
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I think we are more familiar with state of mind. The mood of the soul might be a little more fuzzy for us.
Murray said it is all about attitude. Attitude is manner in which we feel and think, that which influences our behavior.
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We aren’t trying to work things out our way. Thornton wrote, “Pride blocks up the passage through which truth enters the heart.” We aren’t trying to understand everything in our own.
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We make Jesus Lord of our lives and confess that God is Sovereign God.
We’ve got to be able to give up our self-conceit and be receptive to what God wants to give us.
A Misconception about Meekness
A misconception about meekness is that meek people are weak.
That is not the case.
God’s people just be strong to withstand the persecution. Some disciples are already experiencing it. Others will as the end times draw near.
Thornton hooked the strength of meekness to growth. He wrote, “Meekness is the growth of pure religion, cherished in the heart, and displaying its fruits in the life.”
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Ooo, baby. That is a new concept that I don’t think we’ve discussed before when we’ve looked at meekness.
Glossary
Benefits of Meekness
We are not only rewarded because of our weakness, but it also helps us in our interactions with others.
Murray reminded us that meekness is a Beatitude. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mt. 5: 5 ESV).
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Most newer versions translate it as humble. Humility is a character trait that diminishes pride and places dependence on God while holding a modest view of our importance with respect to others.
Another benefit of meekness is it does not contain censoriousness. Censoriousness means being critical of others. Elliott said that this helps us respond the way God wants us to when we are provoked.
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Making the Connections #1
I really like what Murray said. He wrote, “In thinking of this trait being fostered in your disposition, do not think of it as you stand related to men; but think of it as if you were not connected with men at all — as if there were no men living, if that will help your imagination, and you stood connected with God only. This brings out the blessed ministry of meekness. It connects us with God. And this makes it priceless to the soul; for what is so priceless as that which binds us so closely and happily to Him?”
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Making the Connections #2
I read through all of this and questioned why these sermons were put under the fruit of the Spirit list. The sermons really isn’t talking about being rewarded.
I think the reward part comes from the inside out part. We begin being meek after conversion. We start that on the inside because that is a conscious decision to submit to God.
As we grow, our meekness grows as we truly submit every aspect of our lives to God. That is rewarded by our being even more meek.
How Do We Apply This?
- Use meekness to eliminate the desire to anger others.
- Utilize the calming effect associated with meekness to extinguish resentment.
- Forgive others.
- Watch our buttons to ensure someone is not pushing them.
- Watch our temper.
- Avoid situations that foster pride.
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Father God. We submit our lives to You. Help us to turn from our prideful ways to focus only on You. Amen.
What do you think?
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