Colossians 3:12-14 KJV Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 MSG So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Observation
I have had the words “meek”and “humble” on my mind for the past few days. For years I thought they meant essentially the same thing, but never could understand why, if this was so, they would both appear in the same verse. So, I went on a search.
“Humble” is the opposite of “proud”. Since, to me, proud means an over-developed sense of one’s own accomplishment and contribution to that success, then humble is having a clear and constant understanding that (1) God’s definition of accomplishment and success is very different from our culture’s definition, and (2) who we are, what we do and what we accomplish (our successes) must be defined by and rely upon the plan, presence, power and anointing of our God working in and through us.
“Meek” is the opposite of “pushy, self-assertive, domineering”. The word for meek (Gk. praus) is translated as “strength under control”. “Ancient Greek war horses were trained to be meek, meaning they were strong and powerful yet under control and willing to submit” to the commands of their rider. As you see above, “meekness” is variously translated as gentleness (the most common) and quiet strength. In our culture, gentleness or meekness are connected with weakness and becoming a doormat for those in power, avoiding conflict, giving up our rights in the face of overwhelming resistance, being a milquetoast. What a difference to associate it with strength reserved to be exercised at the right time and to the best advantage!
Impact on Me
Jesus was sent to minister to and sacrifice Himself for whosoever would come and embrace His Gospel. He called Himself meek in the face of our repentance and submission (Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle (meek) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mt 11:28-30 NKJV). In the Sermon on the Mount we are told that the meek will inherit the earth. Meekness is included as a fruit of the Spirit. So, what do I do with all of this?
It all came together for me when I heard someone explain the two this way. Humility is knowing, living and being in sync and empowered by who you are in Christ. Meekness is the measure of your submission to God, that quiet strength that says “yes” whether He is asking you to walk in blessing or sacrifice and persecution, being faithful when you don’t understand, responding according to the Word rather than according to your flesh or selfish desires, and, if necessary, being the doormat for someone to wipe the dirt (sin and all its fellows) off as he or she accepts Christ and enters into the presence of the Lord. Therefore, humility is not shy, unsure and retiring because Jesus was bold and confident when He faced His adversaries and when He healed the sick. Meekness is not being weak, overwhelmed and defeated; His meekness required that He boldly confront the religious leaders of the time for their hypocrisy and create chaos by overturning the merchant’s tables whose business was defiling the Temple. Jesus was no doormat to His enemies but He made Himself the doormat into Heaven for us by suffering the Cross so we could have a way to remove our sin and enter His presence .
So, I have to re-examine what Paul is teaching to the Colossians and others about building the right kind of strength in reserve and learning when to wait and when to act. Learning to discern and refine the call on my life Jesus is making and the response it requires of me – IF I want to continue to become meek and more like Jesus. .
Prayer
Lord, God, Creator, Redeemer, Omniscient, Omnipotent, change me, make and mold me, to be that “new man” about whom Paul teaches, meek and humble so that I will completely submit myself to You so there is no hindrance to the flow of Your power and anointing in and through me. Help me to know and understand when this requires boldness and when it requires sacrifice, suffering persecution with patience and faith, or being the doormat into Heaven for another. Arrest me from reacting according to my flesh, my cultural training, when it is not also responding according to Your Word. May people come to meet and know You as they meet You in me, forgetting me but never forgetting You. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.