Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5 (AMP)

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Recently, I asked my four-year-old grandson if he had any advice for his cousin, who will soon have a baby sister. He cocked his head to consider it before replying, “Be nice to her and don’t hit her.” His wisdom made me smile inside and out. It is hard for my grandson to exercise self-control, but he knows his parents (and grandparents) approve when he is gentle with his little sister.

The same idea is present in today’s passage. Blessing refers to the contentment we feel when we do right and receive our heavenly Father’s approval. Meek people are humble, gentle, kind, and self-controlled. Do you associate meekness with happiness? How about with respect? Probably not. 

We think meek means weak, but it is power under control. Being gentle takes great inner strength, especially with people who frame everything as winning or losing. No one wants to feel like a loser, but a mature person can step out of that competitive mindset. Meek does not mean we never speak our minds. Jesus was humble in heart but called people out when needed. He was never timid, but He was meek.  

God’s plan to defeat evil called for meekness. Though Jesus had all God’s might, He did not access it. Instead, with great fortitude, He  submitted to mocking, beatings, and execution. In Matthew 26:52-54, Jesus told Peter to stand down and let the soldiers arrest Him, “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

The election is rapidly approaching. Most people would not include gentleness in their list of desired character traits for a president. Leading with aggression means missed opportunities to accomplish something. What would it look like if we elevated meekness instead? 

If we submit ourselves to God, we will increasingly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The President of the United States is one of the most influential people on earth. How would the world change if we had a person with those qualities in the White House?

Next Steps

Think of someone you know personally and admire. Did they earn your approval through bluster or humility? Today, notice how the desire for respect affects your words and actions.