DRAWING NEAR
April 8
Controlling Yourself
"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth"(Matt.
5:5).
The Greek word translated "gentle" in Matthew 5:5 speaks of humility,
meekness, and non-retaliation--traits that in our proud society are
often equated with weakness or cowardice. But in reality they are
virtues that identify kingdom citizens.
The same word was used by the Greeks to describe a gentle breeze, a
soothing medicine, or a domesticated colt. Those are examples of
power under control: a gentle breeze brings pleasure, but a hurricane
brings destruction; a soothing medicine brings healing, but an
overdose can kill; a domesticated colt is useful, but a wild horse is
dangerous.
Christ Himself is the epitome of gentleness. Even when officially
announcing His messiahship to Jerusalem, He humbly entered the city
astride a donkey (Matt. 21:5). His behavior amid persecution was
exemplary: "Christ . . . suffered for you, leaving you an example for
you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit
found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in
return; while suffering, He uttered no threats" (1 Pet. 2:21-23).
Despite His humility and restraint, Jesus wasn't weak or cowardly. He
never defended Himself, but when His Father's house was being
desecrated, He made a whip and beat those who were defiling it (John
2:13-16; Matt. 21:12-13). He never shirked from pronouncing judgment
on unrepentant sinners, and never compromised His integrity or
disobeyed His Father's will.
The hypocritical Jewish religious leaders expected that when Israel's
Messiah came He would commended them for their wonderful
spirituality. Instead, Jesus condemned them and called them children
of the devil (John 8:44). In retaliation they had Him murdered. His
power was always under control; theirs wasn't.
Our society has little use for gentleness. The macho, do-your-own
-thing mentality characterizes most of our heroes. But you are called
to a higher standard. When you pattern your life after Jesus, you
will have a significant impact on society and will know true
happiness.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the virtue of gentleness, which He is producing in you
by the power of His Spirit. Follow Christ's example today so that
gentleness will mark your character.
For Further Study:
Read the following passages, noting the responsibilities and
blessings that accompany self-restraint: Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians
4:1-2, Colossians 3:12, and Titus 3:1-2.
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Matthew 21:5 (NKJV)
5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
John 2:13-16
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and
doves, and the moneychangers doing business.
15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the
temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers'
money and overturned the tables.
16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do
not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
Matthew 21:12-13
12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those
who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the
money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a
house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
John 8:44
44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father
you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not
stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks
a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the
father of it.
Proverbs 16:32
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who
rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Ephesians 4:1-2
4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk
worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing
with one another in love
Colossians 3:12
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering
Titus 3:1-2
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to
be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all
humility to all men.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
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and
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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