One of the many qualities our culture encourages young people to develop is strength. Physically, academically, and socially, teenagers are urged to try to come out on top. Those who seem too meek or gentle are viewed as pushovers and told to stand up for themselves.
Yet the Bible has a different message about strength—not only about how to show it but also where to find it. Psalm 73:26 (NIV) says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Jesus spoke often about the blessings of gentleness and servanthood. In fact, Jesus himself “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV).
In our noisy, “me-first” world, meek people display peace, calmness, and caring. They don’t have an overinflated view of themselves but instead rely on God’s grace. In Live Large. Be Different. Shine Bright. (Simply Youth Ministry), Doug Fields and Joshua Griffin write that meek people are slow to speak, put other people first, and serve in small and large ways. Yet meekness shouldn’t be equated with weakness, they write. Instead, meek people accept their status before God and “realize that the beautiful, sensitive, humble quality of meekness comes from knowing that God has the power and love to make you his new creation.”
As Jesus' new creation, he will work through you to do great things for His glory.
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