Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild?

April 10, 2022

OBSERVATION: At the beginning of this journey I was mainlining sermons and they were helping, giving much needed messages. But I also knew that I was using them as a crutch. Lately I don’t feel that pressure to always listen to a sermon. I still do listen to them, but I also love spending time studying for myself and listening to what you are saying to me directly. Sometimes it’s something profound and other times it’s something that causes a slight shift in my perspective. But anyway he chooses to speak, I learn more about him. 

Yahweh, thank you for speaking with me. Thank you for using me and shaping me into who you desire me to be. There’s so much going on in this world there is no way to keep up, but you promised that we don’t have to worry about the world, because you have overcome it.  So often we desire influence and power in this world, but the truth is, we are just called to do what you have asked us to do. We aren’t called to be “influencers” the way the world views influence. But a beautiful thing is, once you are doing what Yahweh has called you for and it requires a reach further than a small circle, the influence will come. 

Yahweh, I pray for your spiritual leaders that are in the public eye. I pray that their hearts are so wrapped up and tangled up with you that the notoriety slips over their head and they remain humble in you. Yahweh, lead them in the way that you desire and I pray that they don’t fight to go their own way. That they don’t seek fame and popularity more than they seek you. That every word they speak would be ordained by you. It’s often so easy to mix an ounce of lie with the truth and that ounce can lead others astray, but even if that happens, touch the heart of those who are listening so that they can rightly divine the truth. 

Where they may have erred, correct them and lead them into all truth. In our local communities, I also lift up our leader: our spiritual leaders. Those who have been called by you. I pray that they would seek your face daily so that the words they speak, the way they live would be an example to all who see, what good that happens when we trust you and walk according to your purpose.  You are a God of purpose. You don’t desire that any of us on this earth would be aimless and wandering without hope. You don’t desire that we don’t have peace and that we have no clue as to what our next step is.

You desire to lead us, and I am thankful for your guidance. Thank you for going before and laying the stepping stones. Thank you for showing me what I ought to do next. Thank you for using so many of us and using our personal preference and cultures for your glory. It’s too easy to be one-dimensional in our thinking, but nothing about you is one-dimensional. The fact that someone is living in Timbuktu it’s a gift to reach those who are drawn to there. The fact that someone loves colours would be used to appeal to those who do. Through us, you are also all things to all men, so that they can come to know you for themselves. 

I pray that we don’t take it for granted, that we choose to always hear from you and not turn our backs to you. Let your words be instilled in your heart so that we aren’t swayed from doing your will. Thank you for your love. Thank you for this new week and for using me to help others. Guide my footsteps into your truth. Thank you for who you are. I love you, Yahweh. 

Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your father in heaven. 

Psalm 43:3 – Send your light and your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me to your Holy mountain and to your dwelling place. 

Matthew 16:11-12 – Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking to you about bread? Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees! Then they understood that he didn’t say to watch out for the yeast in bread, but to watch out for the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

2 Timothy 2:15 – Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried and true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.

Patience. Yahweh always answers prayers. We often expect to see an instantaneous change in others and ourselves when we pray about something, and sometimes we do. Many times however, the change is so gradual we don’t immediately notice it. Other times there’s no change for years and then the change happens “suddenly.” But one thing is always developed: patience. To trust Yahweh. To wait on him, to allow him to do a good work in us. 

Romans 12:12 – Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble and pray continually.

Meekness

Meekness: (Dictionary) Enduring injury with patience and without resentment. Deficient in spirit and courage.

Meekness: (Bible) Active and deliberate acceptance of undesirable circumstances that are seen as only part of a larger picture. Strength under control. Expresses power with reserve and gentleness. 

I’ve always had problems with this word: meekness. I viewed it as being a doormat and just allowing anyone to do whatever anyone wanted to do to you. But Jesus wasn’t a doormat and he was/is called meek, so it must mean something else. The recognition that meek truly means to accept and humble myself under Yahweh’s divine wisdom, puts it in a whole other perspective. That acceptance and humility recognizes that not all situations will be perfect, not all situations would feel good. But we can recognize when a situation is from God and accept it and learn from it. Doing that, we gain strength in him. Our faith expands. Our humility expands. 

1 Timothy 6:11 – But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a Godly life, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

N.B. Most modern translations use gentle or humble instead of meek.