If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face.. 2 Chron 7:14 (first part)
Admit it!! If someone was to come straight up to your face and call you incompetent and went around telling other people so, would you say "Even though you hurt me, I still love you", or would you hug them and say "I forgive you even though you hate me!" ???? I pray to God that those situations never confront me, because I tend to see a certain colour...I think, RED .. and have a desire to lift up (not in the exalt sense!) that person, higher than they have ever been, just to see if they could fly ??!!! I praise God for self control and keeping me mostly out of such situations!!
Being hurt is something that is not alien to most of us, many of us have been stabbed in the back or in some cases the front!!! Having to be meek in the face of criticism and an attack on your person can be a tall order. The Bible teaches that "the meek shall inherit the earth" and the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit are "love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS and SELF CONTROL" and that we should "turn the other cheek". Our immediate response to provocation is that we should get even, people should not talk BERTIES (liberties) with our good nature!!! It is interesting to note what Jesus and the apostles did.
Under extreme provovation, jail, whipping, slander, et.c they remained meek and humble. Even to the point where they were killed for their faith. In our Western society sometimes it is hard to fathom this, but the same attitude is being portrayed by Christians in the Phillipines, Pakistan, Middle East, China, former USSR and certain parts of Africa. True faith in God is never a passport to an easy life here on earth. Being meek is not something that comes easy !!
As the text says being humble or meek involves much prayer, seeking God's face and really allowing him to show you what to do rather than running headlong. Like the early church, sometimes as a Christian we need to remove those distractions from our lives which stop us from really seeking him and talking to him. Whether curious to Christianity, on the fringes or having been one all our life...just stop a minute and think about what it really means to be humble.
Dear God, We ask that you make us humble and meek. Show us how and help us to be a good influence. Amen
Admit it!! If someone was to come straight up to your face and call you incompetent and went around telling other people so, would you say "Even though you hurt me, I still love you", or would you hug them and say "I forgive you even though you hate me!" ???? I pray to God that those situations never confront me, because I tend to see a certain colour...I think, RED .. and have a desire to lift up (not in the exalt sense!) that person, higher than they have ever been, just to see if they could fly ??!!! I praise God for self control and keeping me mostly out of such situations!!
Being hurt is something that is not alien to most of us, many of us have been stabbed in the back or in some cases the front!!! Having to be meek in the face of criticism and an attack on your person can be a tall order. The Bible teaches that "the meek shall inherit the earth" and the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit are "love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS and SELF CONTROL" and that we should "turn the other cheek". Our immediate response to provocation is that we should get even, people should not talk BERTIES (liberties) with our good nature!!! It is interesting to note what Jesus and the apostles did.
Under extreme provovation, jail, whipping, slander, et.c they remained meek and humble. Even to the point where they were killed for their faith. In our Western society sometimes it is hard to fathom this, but the same attitude is being portrayed by Christians in the Phillipines, Pakistan, Middle East, China, former USSR and certain parts of Africa. True faith in God is never a passport to an easy life here on earth. Being meek is not something that comes easy !!
As the text says being humble or meek involves much prayer, seeking God's face and really allowing him to show you what to do rather than running headlong. Like the early church, sometimes as a Christian we need to remove those distractions from our lives which stop us from really seeking him and talking to him. Whether curious to Christianity, on the fringes or having been one all our life...just stop a minute and think about what it really means to be humble.
Dear God, We ask that you make us humble and meek. Show us how and help us to be a good influence. Amen
