As the disciples sat with Jesus, He taught about the poor. He went on to address those who mourn and the comfort they will receive. Then He continued:

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.“ (Matthew 5:5, NASB)

Gentle >> “free of harshness; soft, delicate, kind.” (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Other versions of the Bible use the words “humble” or “meek”.

• humble >> “not proud, assertive, or arrogant; reflective, having a spirit of submission.”
• meek >> “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.”
  (all definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Humility and meekness are often thought of as weaknesses, often characterized as someone shy and unmotivated. Yet Jesus was the most humble of all and far from weak, shy, or unmotivated.

Jesus was strong, bold, courageous, and motivated by the purposes of His Father. God esteems and blesses the humble. The quality of humility can be explained:

“Humility is not a weakness. Humility is placing yourself under the grace, glory, love, and mission of God. It gives you a supernatural ability to accomplish God’s mission. Happy are the humble, for God will do above and beyond all they think or imagine, because the risen Lord Jesus will work mightily in them.”

 

(from The Good Life by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, page 75)

The word ‘humble’ comes from the Greek word praeia. It conveys strength that is under control. It is strength under the control of another. The strength in humility can be seen in a horse whom has learned to obey the commands of the one who is riding on its back.

There is a beauty, a grace, and a strength seen in such a horse as its strength is easily recognized. It could throw the rider from its back with the flip of a muscle. Yet it controls itself, heeding the directions and commands of its rider.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God.” (Philippians 2:5-8a, NLT)

That’s the beauty of humility as seen in Jesus. And we are called to have this very same attitude.

Humility –
it’s a strength to place oneself
under the complete authority and will of God.

In her post, “Irritating or Irritable?” HERE, Barbara Harper gives much food for thought. “God uses some people and circumstances as sandpaper to smooth our rough edges.” It’s not an easy lesson to learn but I am grateful how God has used those very days to teach me to tend to myself. See what you think!

Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.

**This is an edited post which first appeared HERE.
Photo by Peter Kostov on Unsplash
Today I may be joining … Remember Me Monday and Tell His Story and InstaEncouragements .