Not Of Myself

Matthew 5:5 (NIV) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

      While practicing with the children for a Christmas program we decided to allow the “little” ones to all be angels in the play. There was one little girl, about 5 years old, that was having a very hard time standing still in the Angel Band. She would talk and move about the group quietly whispering to the other angels. My wife patiently kept leading her back to her place in the group and finally told her that she needed be a good angel and stand still. Looking straight into my wife’s eyes with those precious, innocent, blue eyes she said, “It’s so hard to be an angel.” That was twenty-three year ago and I remember it as if it was yesterday. It still brings a smile to my face as I remember how that “little angel” taught us a valuable truth of this life.

           Trying to be “good” in our own strength is frustrating. We are weak and give in to temptation and find ourselves overcome by the desires of our flesh. On the dusty road of life pride, anger, and selfish desire seem to always find a way to raise up as stumbling blocks. Trying to “be meek” in our own strength is not only hard, it is impossible. The very thought of doing it ourselves sets us up for failure. Meekness begins with the acknowledgement that we need Jesus. Yielding to His plans and desires, trusting in His power, walking in His ways I can take His yoke upon me and learn of Him. 
    
     A gentle spirit is a gift from the Holy Spirit, a product of grace. We find ourselves empty before God and cry out in complete surrender asking for His help. Then the Spirit of the Living God fills us and gifts us with the nature of Christ. Divine meekness belongs to Him. The infilling of the Holy Spirit and the operation of His gifts is not a onetime thing in the life of the Believer but it is a continuous action that we must seek after and yield to everyday.

     Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” It is not enough to casually know Jesus. We can’t just add a little Jesus to our life. We must seek Him, long for Him, and above all else desire to know His ways. The Psalmist cried out, “Teach me your ways, O Lord” I find myself crying out those very same words time and time again. It is easy to get lost in the noise of this world. The message of the enemy bombards us every where we turn. We must stop and confess to ourselves and to God that we just can’t do it on our own.

     Today I cry out from the depth of my heart, “I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need.” After all, “It’s hard to be an angel.”