Mornings With Jesus 2016: 7-Day DevotionalSample

In what we call “The Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus outlines some of the traits He wants His followers to display. One of them, possibly the most difficult and most representative of His own character, is meekness.

I often hear people misunderstand the definition of meekness, describing it as shyness or quietness, not wanting to ruffle any feathers. It seems so many Christians embrace a definition like this, believing it’s a sin to ever offend anyone else by speaking up or saying no to a request. Nothing could be further from the truth of Jesus’s teaching.

What He meant by meekness, what He Himself embodied, was self-control in the face of adversity. Gentleness. It’s the idea of wild horses that have been tamed. We see this time and time again in the New Testament, but never more than when He is on the Cross. Imagine the restraint Jesus had to show in order to fulfill His mission. He could have come down unscathed; He could have obliterated His enemies. But He chose obedience. He chose love.

Meekness does not seem to have much value in today’s world. With credit cards, fast food, and social media, people seem more willing than ever to throw off any sense of self-restraint. If I want it I can buy it. If I’m hungry, I can eat within minutes. And on social media I can tell my story to an international audience. We often suffer from consequences we never took the time to consider because we aren’t meek. But we need to be if we want to be blessed. —Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

FAITH STEP: Consider the wild horses in your life that need taming. Don’t make a purchase, send a text, or write a Facebook post today unless you can do it in the name of Jesus. See what blessing a little meekness brings!