It’s Not About You

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:5

As we learn to follow Jesus, it’s important to learn the difference between weakness and meekness. Weakness is the absence of strength. Meekness is the control of strength. Jesus does not call us to be spiritually weak, but spiritually meek. Just as an athlete does performance training for success in competition, so the disciple disciplines himself for godliness. He grows in grace, increases his knowledge of Scripture, submits to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, serves his fellow man all in order to be a stronger Christian. The disciple of Jesus then controls that strength so that it is used only to glorify the name of Jesus.

Moses exemplified that kind of spiritual strength under control. Through his service of God, Moses learned many lessons of leadership, some through challenges the Israelites faced, many through complaints the Israelites made. As Moses grew stronger as a leader, he also learned to restrain his strength.

One day that restraint was put to the test. Moses’s siblings, Aaron and Miriam, spoke against him, challenging his authority as God’s spokesman and ability to lead God’s people. At that point, he might have been expected to condemn his siblings, but the Bible says, “the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” Moses held his tongue because he had learned such sins were not really against him, but against God. As it turned out, he did not need to defend himself, but because God had his back.

Father, help me to get stronger in my walk with Christ and use my strength for the glory of Christ. When I am wronged, give me grace to give you glory!