Gentleness/Meekness

Came across this definition/explanation of "gentle" while doing homework for one of my classes. I can't seem to find the source, but it is either from Alfred Humphreys or W. E. Vine, as far as I can tell. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the number is one given from the Strong's Concordance.) It's long but it's worth the read.

gentle (Greek#4239 praus) - "meek, gentle, mild"; it is an adornment of the Christian profession, I Pet. 3:4. "It is an inwrought grace of the soul, and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing and resisting. It is closely linked to the word for humility. It is the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of His elect. In Gal. 5:23 it is associated with 'self-control'...this word (gentle/meek) describes a condition of mind and heart...the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was 'meek' because He had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; is is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all."

There are so many things I could say about this, but I think that this pretty much says it all.

Quotes

‎"A person's involuntary response to the unexpected is a more reliable indicator of his character than his planned reaction to a situation he anticipates. It is when we are caught off guard that our true character is most likely to show itself." MacArthur

"Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see." Corrie ten Boom

"Someone once observed that the toothache you have this very minute is the worst pain in the world." Elizabeth Elliot

"Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living." Jim Elliot

"When the will of God crosses the will of man, somebody has to die." Addison Leitch

"It is a good thing God chose me before I was born, because He surely would not have afterwards." Charles Spurgeon

Hope

Today as I sat in the Poached Pear with Meredith, I spilled my guts out and told her all that's gone on this week. It's been a rough one! Nothing bad has happened, I am just in many situations where I cannot control the outcome. She pointed out that this forces me to (and I am so thankful for it) completely trust in my all-powerful Creator who is in control and works all things for His glory and my good. She reminded me of the gospel and the fact that God is faithful and is working in my life, even through the tough times. This week has made me really think about where my hope lies. My hope is not on anything this world has to offer, but "is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

In high school, I remember hearing an amazing sermon from my youth pastor on hope. I do not remember much of what he said, but I found a source that has a similar message (for the full text, click here). Here's an exerpt I found especially helpful:

What's the difference between a Christian definition of hope and the way it is usually used?

The word "hope" in ordinary English vocabulary is generally distinguished from certainty. We would say, "I don't know what's going to happen, but I hope it happens."

When you read the word "hope" in the Bible (like in I Peter 1:13 - "set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"), hope is not wishful thinking. It's not "I don't know if it's going to happen, but I hope it happens. That's absolutely not what is meant by Christian hope.

Christian hope is when God has promised that something is going to happen and you put your trust in that promise. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass.  -John Piper, emphases his

So to hope in God is to be fully assured that He will bring what He promised to pass. Hope is certain. Meredith reminded me that I must rest in God and His promises. When I don't have control over my circumstances it is the perfect reminder to trust in God. Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." Why are we able to hope in God? Because He is faithful to fulfill His promises! If He says He'll do something, HE WILL. Here are a few of the promises we hope in.

• Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." He gives rest - rest for our souls.
• Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." He will provide for ALL of your needs.
• Romans 8: 37 - "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." We can have victory over sin.
• Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angles, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing can take away His love from us.

I don't have much else to say about this, let alone time to say more. But I just was so encouraged by this reminder and wanted to share in case others could be encouraged, too.