7.7.08

Meek? Me?!? Yes, Lord, make 'meek' me.


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30)

Jesus died on the cross and demonstrated resurrection life so that we who believe in Him not only have resurrection as our hope but are empowered to live the crucified life. That requires that we take up our cross daily and follow Him. Add to that the point that Jesus said those who humble themselves will be exalted, on the contrary those who exalt themselves will find a rude awakening in store for them (in my own words). 

It struck me (not suddenly, but during some hours of meditating on Matthew 5:5) that Jesus deliberately lowered Himself to a life that had no glitz or glamour, fully intending that we follow in His footsteps - put our feet into His leather sandals, so to speak. We are to lug our cross likewise through life "...for the joy set before [us]." Because Jesus was lowly in heart, He could relate totally with people who were 'sick' and 'needy', because those who were healthy didn't need a doctor. He came to seek and save the lost. The depraved, the condemned, the broken, the filthy, the unlovable - that's us.

He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...humbled Himself and became obedient to death... (Phil 2:6-8)

WE are His inheritance. He did all that so He could pay our ransom. So that WE would belong to HIM. Imagine that...

The Lord of Hosts, fully divine and fully human, clothed Himself with meekness - for YOU.
Forget riches of the world.
Forget having kingdoms at your feet (Satan taunted Him with this).
Forget position, power, political leverage.
Forget reputation.
Forget popularity.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matt 5:5)
We are Jesus' inheritance.
And in His leather-sandals footsteps, "[our] attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus"
(Phil 2:9-11).

Holy Spirit revealed some things to my heart concerning true meekness, how Jesus embodies that, and how it relates to how we carry our hearts before God and men. Very humbling. And it's so sweettt! It's dope :) 

As we seek to walk in His attitude of meekness, not seeking rights, riches or righteousness of our own, what do we inherit?
The Lord reminded me of (1) Ps 2:8; and (2) when you become more and more like Christ in your walk, anything you ask of your Father in heaven He delights to give to you. When your heart's desires cleave onto to His heartbeat, what He wants becomes what you want, and vice-versa - that is mind-boggling and totally awesome to me! (3) and we learn to love unlovables like ourselves.

Lord, may my heart be postured in meekness before You, against the landscape of truth, mercy, justice and righteousness, let this reign. Above my rights, principles, beliefs, understanding, thoughts, reign over my stubborn and proud heart to be lowered under the weight of the revelation of Your crucifiction. Awe me so much with how You can be so humble in heart as God of the universe, yet are so strong and powerful, that I may learn to find rest in that, in knowing I need only to come to You, my inheritance is found only in You. 


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