Growing in Christ - Put on meekness.
Communion Sunday
A sacrament gives a dramatic sign that points beyond itself to some truth of redemption that is crucial to the life of the people of God.
Intro
What is meekness?
Biblical meekness is usually not simply gentleness and humility but those qualities displayed with integrity during times of trial.
the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance
Meekness is therefore an active and deliberate acceptance of undesirable circumstances that are wisely seen by the individual as only part of a larger picture.
Meekness does not identify the weak but more precisely the strong who have been placed in a position of weakness where they persevere without giving up.
The virtues listed in Colossians include words that carry a profound emotional content referring to how one feels when responding to another in need.
Put on meekness.
Jesus’ teaching.
These are not the weak in character, the meekly submissive or the fearful compromisers. Christianity is not a crutch for the sick or a parapet for the dizzy, a substitute for those who have missed something else. Therefore the gospel is not a hymn in praise of people without stuffing or strength
Meekness is quite compatible with great strength and ability as humans measure strength, but whatever strength or weakness the meek person has is accompanied by humility and a genuine dependence on God.
True meekness may be a quality of the strong, those who could assert themselves but choose not to do so. The strong who qualify for this blessing are the strong who decline to domineer. Self-assertion is never a Christian virtue; rather, it is Christian to be busy in lowly service and to refuse to engage in the conduct that merely advances one’s personal aims.
Jesus’ own example.
Jesus is inviting people to follow him, to serve him, and to learn from him. In the New Testament yoke is always used metaphorically and signifies bondage or submission to authority of some kind.