Week 9 ~ Meekness: Absorbing contentious reactions and reflecting God's strength through measured responses
Truth Verses
Galatians 5:23 the fruit of the spirit is...meekness
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (3rd beatitude).
Matthew 11:29 I am meek and lowly in heart (Jesus)
James 1:21; 3:11...receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls...Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Galatians 6:1,2 if a man is overtaken in sin...restore such a one in the spirit of meekness
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.
Truth Story
Having feasted on a visual diet of revenge movies, starring actors such as Charles Bronson, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Clint Eastwood and Jason Stratham, I am conscious how all too easy it is for the big screen to subtlety twist what true justice really looks like. The recent blockbuster 'Taken' trilogy, starring Liam Neeson, feeds this commonly held feeling, that it is all right to impose a justice outside the restraints of the judicial process. When Neeson insists to the perpetrator "I will look for you! I will find you and when I do, I will kill you,” his intent is clearly one of revenge. In the clear light of day it is easy to agree with his underlying motivation to seek justice.
Neeson's "particular set of skills" certainly equipped him to back up his verbal threats, but fighting fire with fire is certainly not true justice. However laudable the goal 'two wrongs don't make a right!'
So, although injustice happens, it is not enough to overcome it with more injustice. Retaliation and revenge are poor natural reactions to others who are through their provocative actions have 'done you wrong'. Many believe it a good idea to lash out by getting their own back, particularly when mistreated. In contrast to the spirit of revenge, the spirit of meekness is a supernaturally controlled and God-inspired measured response.
Truth Unpacked
Jesus himself modelled meekness (Matthew 11:9), harnessing and absorbing how he was mistreated and maligned. 'He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
The Holy Spirit is the enabling source of strength (Galatians 5:23). He helps us both soak up the adverse reaction and also demonstrate a God inspired response - that of a mild, measured (or controlled) and gentle disposition.
Quote
Meekness is not weakness, its strength under control,
Don’t think of me as weak, shy, reserved, or timid.
I’m a child of the king the half has not yet been told....
No! You can’t walk all over me and treat me like a door mat,
I’m not trying to straighten out the world and that settles that. I refuse to respond to every critic and I won’t let it bother me, I may have the power to do something about it, but my time is too valuable you see: I’ll keep my focus and stand tall doing what I’m called to do.
My strength and power is in God’s control. Meekness is not weakness, blessed are the chosen few.
(Abraham Lincoln - 16th US President)
Praying the Word
Help us Lord be like a punching bag that doesn't feel hurtful jabs (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Holy Spirit, give us the strength to soak up and absorb the blows of wrong reactions (Ephesians 4:26-27). Like a wild stallion that has been broken and is now tamed, help us to control situations that are often wild and out of control (2 Peter 1:6). Help us to be harnessed to your Spirit and lead us to be both a 'preventer' and a 'restorer.' Help us diffuse difficult sets of circumstances with a supernatural calm response. Help us to demonstrate a mild and measured disposition (Galatians 6:1,2). Amen.
Lectio Divina [Prayer reading]
Pray, read and reflect.
• Have those that are willing pray, asking that the Holy Spirit would help them hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Read the scriptures again.
• Then go around the room [allowing for ‘neighbour nudging’ to let people opt out should they not want to share]. Have everyone willing then reflect, acknowledging one thing they sense the Holy Spirit is saying to them as they read.
Pray, reinforce and contemplate.
• Close the connect group time by praying that the Spirit would help empower everyone to demonstrate Jesus-like characteristic of meekness.
• Reinforce this by participating in a symbolic gesture or creative activity that does something to express your desire to receive this change (e.g. Share stories of how you have, at some time, just reacted badly to someone holding a contrasting view. Look at how you could and should have responded with a friendly disposition).
• Ask everyone to contemplate; to consider how they can demonstrate this characteristic more in their everyday lives.
