View this lesson in a browser and print a "take-away" weekly copy. CLICK HERE (see link below)
| SUNDAY | February 21 |
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29). What is Jesus telling us here? How can being meek and lowly in heart bring rest to our souls?
Meekness is the absolute ceasing to fight for our agenda and believing that God will fight on our behalf for His. Meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The meek person is not occupied with self (see Luke 22:42)—an attitude that's key to the promise of finding rest for our souls. After all, aren't our turmoil and agitation so often due to seeking only for ourselves and what we want? In the truest sense, then, a meek person is one who has learned to die to self, and that takes faith, courage, and perseverance, not necessarily traits the world would associate with meekness.
Read Romans 12:3. How is the idea of meekness represented here? In what ways is this the key to being meek?
Ephesians 4:2 is another text that helps us understand what meekness is. Notice how it's related to Romans 12:3, in that both texts emphasize in their own way why arrogance and selfishness are contrary to the Christian's walk. After all, why should any Christian be arrogant about anything? Are we not all sinners? Would we all not be doomed to eternal destruction were it not for Jesus? Are we not all utterly dependent upon God for every breath, every heartbeat? Does not every gift and talent we have come from God? What then do we have to be proud about? Nothing! Indeed, considering all that it cost to save us, Christians should be the meekest and humblest folk on earth.
Think about how utterly dependent you are upon God for everything. Where, then, does that pride and arrogance in your heart come from, and how can you get rid of it?
No comments:
Post a Comment