Years ago I had a conversation with a woman from a Bible study in Penn Hills. I have no recollection of what the conversation was about, but suddenly on the inside, I was very angry. * As far as I know, the woman never knew I  was angry because I gave her no indication. But I knew, and I couldn’t get my inner reaction out of my mind.

Finally, I said, “Lord, what fruit of the Spirit am I lacking that I reacted  as I did?” I believe it was a Holy Spirit-inspired prayer because I’d never prayed that way before. There was no immediate answer, so I began to recite the fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, and Self-Control. Hmmm… I knew there were nine fruit. Which one was missing? When I looked at Galatians 5:22, I found my answer, Meekness. (Some translations have substituted the word “kindness” for “gentleness” and then used “gentleness” for “meekness,” but I don’t believe that captures the essence of this fruit as well.) I knew it was the fruit I was lacking.

So I began to pray that the Holy Spirit would develop this fruit in my life. However, I found it’s one thing to “appear” to be meek, but quite another to actually be meek. Webster says meekness is “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” Too often we endure injury, or what we perceive to be injury, by defending ourselves or by appearing to be meek while stuffing our true feelings. Neither is a healthy response.

Listen to the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus says, “Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” What can we learn from Jesus about being meek and lowly in heart? (The picture was taken in Japan and is symbolic of life when we refuse the yoke of Jesus.)

It was impossible to affect Jesus by lowering His reputation for He had already made himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:7)…The man who does not think of himself more highly than he should (Romans 12:3) can never be hurt if others do not acknowledge him… a disease called “touchiness” is a morbid condition of the inward disposition. It is self-love inflamed to the acute point; conceit, with a hair-trigger…There are people who go about the world looking for slights, and they are miserable for they find them at every turn─especially imaginary ones.” (Henry Drummond, Peace Be With You) So true!

Jesus’ heart was free of pride, selfishness, and ambition which I believe are the opposite of meekness and lowliness of heart. For that reason, “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (I Peter 2:23). Our usual response to insults and threats is to defend ourselves, but we have a choice. We can choose to pray each day, “Enable me to bring my entire spirit, soul, and body under the reign of your Spirit. Teach me today to walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the deep desires of my flesh.” Henry Drummond says, “We can (choose to) become meek and lowly in heart while the old nature is becoming numb from lack of use.” I love that! We have a choice.

Lord Jesus, Help us to choose each day to come under the reign of your Spirit rather than yielding to our old nature. Develop meekness in our hearts as we choose to take your yoke and learn from you. Amen.

*6/24/2020 As I’ve said in the past, there is godly anger, but I knew this wasn’t it! I believe we’ve never lived in a time when we needed so desperately to remember we have a choice about how we respond to things that are said or done to us. We don’t have to lash out and spew venom on anyone who disagrees with us and/or who lashes out and spews venom on us. We still have a choice in the year 2020!