Blessed are the meek....

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. Matthew 5:5

The dictionary defines 'meek' as: humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others; overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame. And then number 3 described as 'obsolete..gentle; kind.

How do Christians define 'meek'? Especially in the context of Matthew 5:5?

I've had a bookmark with this verse on it on my home office desk for weeks, and it has nagged at me. What does it mean to be meek? I don't think Websters defines it in the biblical context, except in that 'obsolete' definition, and I find that bothers me more than the question. That the definition of 'gentle' and 'kind' are obsolete, while the more current definition is 'spiritless' and 'tame' says something about the state of society in our times.

People think 'meek' is synonymous with 'weak' and that just is not true. That is letting society dictate our beliefs and not the Word, and not God. Matthew doesn't say the weak will inherit the Earth - Christians are not weak. They are the persecuted, yet the ones that must always stand up FOR the weak. Christians with Faith are STRONG. Why then should we fear being meek? Why do so many Christians fear being 'gentle and kind' when it comes to certain situations that involve sacrifice.

It bothers me when I hear people bashing on the homeless or the jobless, the hungry and the poor. Because I don't think even one of those who look down on the less fortunate, could be strong enough to live in those circumstances. I wonder if they would have the courage to be meek.

One act of kindness can change a person's life. It can save a person's life. And it can save a soul, maybe even yours. Recently I saw a video of a story, of a middle school football team who, on their own initiative and behind their coaches backs, designed a play to give a special needs player a moment in the spotlight. THAT is being meek. Our children have the capacity for so much grace, if we just LET them, and encourage them. Especially in this day when the concept of God and Jesus are all but forbidden in our schools. Where are the meek that shall inherit the Earth? I think they are the unspoken heros; the kid who walks an elderly woman across a busy intersection; the youth that volunteer, despite the school district's rule against anything linked to religion, to run a food drive for a Christian assistance organization; the kid that stands up to a bully to protect another kid he doesn't even know. These are the meek. The ones who stand up for what is right, not because they want publicity, but because it's just the right thing to do in their heart.

We need more of the meek my friends.