MEEKNESS
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)
Do you know the difference between meekness and weakness? We don’t use the term meekness often in our day and age, possibly because it’s in such short supply, so we can often confuse the two. Weakness is an absence of power. Meekness is power under control. So, let’s consider the ramifications of Christ being weak versus meek. If Christ was weak, then His life was taken from Him. Pilate and the conspiring Pharisees were the ones who put Him on the cross. But we know this is not what really happened. Jesus was meek—He had all the power in the universe available to Him, yet He chose restraint. Consider what Jesus said to Peter when he tried to defend Jesus with a sword:
But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask My Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
Matthew 26:51-54 (NLT)
That’s not weakness at all. Jesus could have stopped what was happening at any point, but He willingly gave His life up to rescue and redeem the lost. Jesus even tells Pilate that he has no power over Him except what was given from above (see John 19:11). Jesus, in humility and meekness, deliberately walked a path of sacrifice. He died to save the lost, and not just any death, but a horrifyingly painful and shameful death on a cross.
And it’s with this in mind that Paul tells us we must have the same attitude as Christ. I pray you’re never in a position where you might have to lay down your life for someone else literally. But metaphorically speaking, we should regularly sacrifice for others. We are called to walk humbly and meekly. How can you do that today?
APPLICATION: Does your life look like Christ’s? Are you walking in humility? Are you living meekly? How might you emulate the attitude of Christ at home? At work? Everywhere in between?
PRAYER: Father, help me to live as Your Son Jesus did—meekly and humbly. Take my pride away that I might be a more accurate picture of the Savior to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?