L. C. FOX-SMITH - 06/05/25: Today I reflected on Matthew 5:5, ‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.’
Initially I thought of meekness as a weakness - but it’s not. To be ‘meek’ is to be gentle, humble, and willing to surrender to God. But it’s not enough to behave like this when things are going our way, we should strive to be like this even when times are tough. By being gentle, humble and reliant on God, His strength will flow through us. Meekness may be quiet, but it’s powerful.
When others see our meekness, it stands out, too. It’s radically different to what people are used to. Like when Jesus says to go the extra mile, it’s unheard of. The Chosen illustrates this so well. The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus and His disciples as they carried their armour and equipment. But when they all went the extra mile, the Roman soldiers were shocked. They felt guilty, showed some respect and gratitude, and were generally baffled by the behaviour.
The extra mile is a perfect example of how meekness can be a strength. It can change others without us having to do anything. When we are meek, we allow God to work through us. Just as we saw with the Romans, other people will experience His love and grace!
It’s the most humbling experience to recognise that there’s a power higher than ourselves, and then when we learn to trust that power - and surrender to it - our behaviour starts to change. Instead of being vengeful we will trust in God’s justice rather than our own. When we might be overbearing, wanting to push our agenda on others, instead we will be gentle and let the Holy Spirit lead us. Instead of reacting angrily to a petty situation, we will take a beat and think before we speak or retaliate.
I love how we see Jesus embodying meekness throughout the Gospels. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus tells us that His ‘burden is light’ because He carries it with us. That’s such a beautiful concept! He teaches us that we don’t have to carry out all the rituals and tribulations associated with religion. Instead we just have to follow Him and we will gain purpose, contentment and peace. This takes us back to Matthew 5:5, where we will ‘inherit the earth’. Not only will we gain purpose, contentment and peace now but there’s also a promise of eternity with God in His kingdom.
Jesus didn’t just teach meekness - He lived it. I pray that I’ll be able to follow His example, even when it’s hard. May my life reflect His gentleness, not just for my sake, but so others can see His heart through me and feel the abundant peace He offers us.
Have you felt that peace in your life?