Make Room for Self-Control
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
I don’t know if I’ve ever heard someone refer to another person as meek. Frankly, if you call me a meek person, I don’t think I’d take it well. It just sounds a little like an insult. The truth is, being meek is a great thing. The word above has the idea of strength under control. Think of a wild animal that’s been tamed. They still have all the strength they did. Now they can control it. Now people can get around them and not be hurt. This is what the verse above refers to—when you have self-control, it isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. It means people can be around you, and they won’t be crushed or hurt by your words or your anger. Weak people can’t do this. Only a strong person can operate with self-control.
In a culture of Yelp reviews, instant feedback, social media and growing criticism, people often are careless with their words and emotions. This isn’t strength, but rather, it’s indulgence. It’s okay to speak truthfully, but grace isn’t optional. I can’t pick truth when it’s convenient and grace when it’s convenient. They’re both necessary and should always go hand in hand. It’s just like breathing in and breathing out. You need both.
I’m often humbled that Jesus was silent before His accusers. When He was falsely accused, He stood and took the physical and verbal abuse that was hurled at Him. The creation was mocking their creator, yet He didn’t fight back. This isn’t weakness. It’s strength. On the cross, they mocked Him— if You are the Son of God, then come down and save Yourself. It wasn’t the nails in Jesus’ hands and feet that kept Him on the cross. It was His love. At any moment, He could have called down 10,000 angels to His rescue or crushed those mocking Him, but He didn’t. Again, this isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. Sadly, I used to think of power as position, but now I think of it as an inner condition. It’s a strength that allows you to serve, not crush, love not destroy, build up not tear down, to absorb the loss instead of fighting back. It’s tough to do, but it’s the way of Jesus. It’s the way of the Kingdom, and we must make room for self-control as Jesus’ disciples.
Application: Power isn’t a position. It’s your inner condition. Let God fight your battles.
Prayer: Ask God to help you be more patient! Ask the Spirit where you’re struggling with patience or gentleness. Ask Him to bring greater levels of freedom and joy into your life. Ask Him to give you greater control that would increase your witness to Him!
“… 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?