Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Matthew 5:5)

Morning Thoughts, ,

Morning ThoughtsMatthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

This morning, the Christian virtues of the Bible are not just becoming less commonplace in practice, but more and more people do not know exactly what they are. Today, if you asked someone what charity is, they would likely respond that it is a benefit of some kind: raising money for some cause, or hosting an event to promote the cause. When asked about love, they would likely give some sort of emotional definition full of squishy feelings that somehow equates to love. Love and charity are both sacrificial action that puts others ahead of self. Emotion oftentimes attends the action, but the virtue is in the action not the emotion. The Christian virtue of meekness is something the many today would not even be able to define or spot as it is becoming increasingly alien and foreign to the general consciousness of society. 

Our study verse is found in the midst of a passage of Scripture commonly referred to as the Beatitudes from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. He references many things that people will be blessed to perform with a promised outcome for that behavioral import. Those that hunger and thirst after righteousness have the promise of being filled. Peacemakers are blessed with the promise of being called the children of God. Our verse gives the blessing and promised outcome for the meek in this world. Therefore, for us to experience this blessing, we need to know what meekness is, how to properly use it, and then have a proper understanding of what to expect from God’s promise. 

Meekness is defined in many ways, but two of the most beneficial definitions (from faithful sources like a Webster’s 1828 and other places) can be summed up as: 1. quietness of spirit and 2. humility of soul. These two definitions show that meekness is more of an inward sense rather than an outward display. In this sense, meekness is what the inside looks like for someone who displays gentleness on the outside. Gentleness is an outward calmness, whereas meekness is inward calmness. One of the treasures of the 1828 Webster’s is the final sentence in the segment on the definition of “meekness.” It says, “Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended.” 

Now knowing what meekness is, how do we approach or put our arms around the promise to the meek to “inherit the earth?” One of the hardest things about this phrase to reconcile – for me at least – is the fact that this world is not the home for the child of God, yet this verse talks about us inheriting something. It is for this reason that I have heard some far out explanations of this verse, but the heart of the answer to the question is found in I Timothy 6:17. Paul encourages Timothy to exhort people not to trust in this world or the things in it but in God. Paul finishes the verse by talking about one of the things the Living God has done for us. He has given us all things richly to enjoy. When we understand the meaning of that expression, we get a good sense of what the manifestation of the promise to the meek is, and we then see how the pitfalls to take away our meek and quiet spirit strip this promise as well.

When God made the natural creation, He put things in the creation that were meant to be enjoyed. It is true that food from this planet nourishes and sustains our bodies, but God did more than that. He gave us a natural instinct to enjoy the process of eating. Sleep is something the body needs, but God designed people to actually enjoy the process. Families in function help keep a species propagated, but God gave us families to enjoy in the sense of relation, fellowship, society, etc. When it comes to this planet and the naturally created things, why is it that man has such a fascination with something like a waterfall? It is simply water flowing over a rock near the edge of a large elevation drop. Why is it that we enjoy sights, sounds, and smells from nature? Why is it that something as crude as eating could be so highly enjoyed? The answer to all these situations is that God has given us all things richly to enjoy. We are built and designed to enjoy them. Not only are they good for us, but He has given the instinct that takes delight in them too.

In a natural sense, this is man’s inheritance here. As God’s last and special of all creations, man was given a fully formed, developed, and fit place to which he was naturally designed. Solomon repeatedly throughout the book of Ecclesiastes refers to man’s life, works, etc. as “his portion.” Naturally speaking, God designed us this way, and we have the ability as his special creation and stewards over this world to richly enjoy these lives – completely in keeping with the dictates and rules He has established. However, just like natural heirs can forgo or forfeit their birthright, so can natural man not enjoy this life that God has given us unless meekness rules within.

Have you ever watched the sad behavior of someone that was so torn up inside that they either could not eat or did not enjoy eating? Perhaps their sleep departed from them. Work was a burden rather than a joy. Church was a duty rather than a love. No matter what was before them, they did not enjoy it. The inner turmoil that we sometimes fall into will keep us from enjoying what God created for us to enjoy. If my mind and spirit are disquieted within me, I can lose the ability for a season to enjoy the company of my family. I may be in their presence, but I have not been able to enjoy the situation due to the lack of meekness within. Whenever someone is on the other end of the spectrum from overmuch sorrow – haughtiness – the same outcome is affected. Consider the mindset of a prideful man. Food is never good enough. The job does not pay enough. No one else is smart enough. And so the list proceeds. They cannot enjoy the things of life or the people in their life due to the suffocating nature that ego brings about.

Meekness is the only mindset and constancy that is suitable ground and prepared soil for our lives to experience living rather than just existing. Truly, if we are breathing and walking around, we have life, but only if we have the quiet, calm constancy of soul and humility of spirit do we experience what it is like to really be living. When Christ spoke this, He was actually quoting directly from Psalm 37:11. The entire Psalm is worthy of careful and deliberate consideration to a disciple of Christ today. There are many good encouragements and warnings that are as fresh and vital today as they ever have been. However, the tone of the Psalm is really set in the first verse when the Psalmist encourages the child of grace not to fret over evildoers or become envious of the workers of iniquity.

What are those two behaviors if not the polar opposite of meekness? When the problems of the world make us fret, we lose that quiet spirit, and rather, we feel a roaring within. When we become envious of those around us, we lose that humility of soul, and rather, we feel bitter all the time. Bitterness and trouble will make food taste bad. They will also rob the moments of joy that we can have each and every day that we live. We lose our inheritance to such things, and the existence of life occurs without real living. Too many times, I have forgotten that each day is a miracle from His almighty hand. Each rising out of bed is a mercy, and the bed to own and use is a blessed comfort. Food – while necessary – is a joy from Him, family is a blessing beyond compare, and the spiritual plane of His church and the fellowship of His family is the highest of all highs in this world. These items are both necessary for my life and/or commandments for my duty. However, I would rather live in the enjoyment of these things than in the necessity of these things.

Today, there is much to rob the child of God’s attention and affection. However, no matter what the evildoers say, do not fret friend. No matter what the workers of iniquity seem to have in this world, look not upon those uncertain riches. Let us trust completely, wholly, and devotedly in the Living God. Look at how much He has not only done for us but given us. Let us enjoy it. Let us enjoy this life to the fulness of His glory. Each day of rising in the morning should be accompanied with, “Thank you Lord for another day. What wilt Thou have for me to do for You today?” Whatever that thing or things may be, let us do it heartily as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), for that is our daily inheritance to be enjoyed only in the meekness and quietness of soul. 

In Hope, 

Bro Philip

Morning Thoughts (Daniel 5:22)

Morning Thoughts,

image Daniel 5:22, “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;”

This morning, people are much more understanding and compassionate to someone that errs through ignorance rather than willful stubbornness. For example, if someone hurts another’s feelings without knowing it, that situation is much easier to remedy in the light of revelation than someone who consciously injured another. Even in the law, there are separate punishments for crimes with the same outcome. If someone kills another without premeditation, they might be labeled by the law as guilty of manslaughter or accidental homicide. However, premeditated killing merits the moniker of murder. God’s law brings about the same things. God has far more mercy and compassion on people that sin through ignorance than He does on those that sin willfully after the flesh. (Luke 12:48) However, the most egregious sin is the oft-repeated, stubborn sin. If the misbehavior is known by the offender but he keeps it up with seemingly no remorse, that is looked at the most unfavorably of all.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I just didn’t know?” Perhaps they follow that statement with, “I would never have dreamed of doing ____ had I only known.” These types of sentiments are perhaps many times true, but oftentimes people use them to curry an extra measure of compassion from someone when called on the carpet about it. Sometimes, people make excuses for not following God as they should with self-proclaimed statements of ignorance. “I just didn’t know what God said to do….” Lately, I have heard a fair number say, “I would not doubt God if I could see what that book talks about.” They are referencing the Bible and all the naturally remarkable stories that cause our natural mind to stand back in utter awe and amazement. A worldwide flood that covered the highest mountains? Wow! A sea parting for people to walk across dry while their enemies drowned in the same body of water? Amazing! Water flowing out of a rock in the desert? Wish I could have been there! Tables of stone burned on by the fiery imprint of God’s own finger? Would love to have read those stones personally!

No matter what the Bible talks about in all of its amazing qualities, we can be assured of 2 outcomes from amazing events like these: 1. the supernatural events are 100% true just as they appear on the page,and 2. the events fade from mortal man’s immediate memory due to the weakness of the flesh. In all of the amazing events we listed, the people who were recipients of those wonderful events and saw the majesty of the Lord through these supernatural deliverances still had problems, doubts, fears, unbelief, and stubborn sin to fight. We, as natural creatures, are no different today in struggling with our failings no matter how much we have seen of God’s goodness and mercy.

Daniel is speaking in our study verse to a wicked king that has just held an impious feast of idolatry. During this feast, God breaks up the party by writing on the wall a prophecy of condemnation to this man and his kingdom that none of them can read. Daniel is called in to read the writing for them. Now, before Daniel fulfills the king’s request to read the writing, he upbraids the king for being in this shape. Belshazzar the king was obviously alive to witness some of the things that happened to Nebuchadnezzar in the previous chapters as he ruled over the land of Babylon. In the preceding verses to ours, Daniel briefly recounts what happened to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4. Daniel 5:19 gives as rich a description of the sovereignty as can be found in Holy Writ. It all boils down to this: if God so desires it, none can hinder or stop it. What man wants or desires is not secondary to what God desires. What man wants is immaterial to what God desires. He is the holy and just Ruler of things seen and unseen.

In reminding Belshazzar of God’s sovereignty, he also reminds him of what happened to his forebears. Nebuchadnezzar had to endure one of the most humiliating periods that any mortal man has suffered. For seven years, he was hideous beyond compare. He had feathers on his back like a bird. He had claws on his hand like a beast. He ate grass in the field like an ox. Wow! Consider this sight. The man who ruled over the greatest empire in the history of the world to that point is now regulated to a fate like that of a beast. For seven years! All of his subjects could walk by and witness the abject humiliation of this man. In our verse, Daniel reminds Belshazzar that he knew and saw all those things. He was not ignorant of God’s power and authority. If God so wills, it is done. Without any question, Belshazzar was not ignorant. However, Belshazzar had fallen victim to the same pride of his forebears. A careful reading of Daniel 4 shows that Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar exactly what would happen to him. 12 months later, the man was lifted up with pride to fall prey to the very consequence to which he was warned. Belshazzar saw all this. He knew all this. Yet, he allowed himself to get lifted up with pride and fall victim to neglecting and attending to the things he should have: ruling honorably and in fear of authority greater than his own.

Now, you might say, “Preacher, what do the events in the lives of kings that lived thousands of years ago have to do with me today?” The answer is simply this: I have never seen a sight like a man being struck down to the level that Nebuchadnezzar was. I have never witnessed any of the majestic sights like the children of Israel had in the wilderness or in the days of the Old Testament prophets and kings. I have seen – by faith – the unspeakable and utterly amazing work of God delivering, protecting, and at times casting down things in my own life. However, I am prone to the same follies of these men of olden times. All of us are creatures of “like passions” one to another. We so often forget the things we should retain and retain the things we should neglect. Notice the point later on this story. Belshazzar is told by Daniel that the writing on the wall speaks of the imminent demise of his kingdom. That very night, Babylon was taken by the next world empire – the Medes and Persians.

How many times have all of us witnessed God’s power and glory in our lives? How many times have we left off what we should and gone after the devices of our own thinking? If we have witnessed these things again and again, yet have fallen again and again into the same holes of pride and self, we are guilty of the worst of all shortcomings: repeated, willful, and stubborn sin. It goes beyond having knowledge. It goes beyond being simply stubborn. We do it again and again. Whether it is an individual, church, community, family, or country, God’s longsuffering and mercy will not be nearly as broad for those that not only know better but know better a lot. Friends, to those that know the Lord’s dealings very powerfully and personally, I beseech you. Let us who know better leave off the servings of the flesh and focus on devotion to our Lord. Certainly in our cleansed soul we understand how deserving He is of our all. May we put it into full and total effort so that a servant of God does not stand before us and say, “though thou knewest this, yet….” May our examples set a Godly tone that perhaps may yield fruit that springs up richly toward our Lord that can bless us, our churches, our families, our communities, and yes, even our country too.

In Hope,

Bro Philip