Cause and effect

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

CAUSE AND EFFECT

Matt 5:5

5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

NIV

Happy is the person who is meek, or gentle in spirit. The original word is actually a compound word which our English language would have used gentlemen. It would seem our society today has lost the concept of this word. It appears as if everyone is far more concerned about their own rights than the rights of others. Jesus used this word to describe himself.

Matt 11:28-30

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

NIV

Gentle and humble in heart, a gentleman. Of course it would be difficult for women to be gentlemen, but the concept of being gentle and humble in heart can be exhibited by both genders. If we are gentle and humble in heart then we should not think more highly of ourselves then we should. It would imply that we would then not withdraw ourselves from the harshest of believers, the prideful, those who consider themselves more spiritual, because the gentle and humble in heart do not consider themselves superior to none, knowing in our heart that we are nothing at all except from the mercy and grace of God. When we are judgmental it is due to a lack of being gentle and humble in heart. Judgmental attitudes are proof of feeling superior in some sense. Having a critical attitude also is a result of thinking more of ourselves then we should. Being a gentleman is more than opening the door for a lady, or offering a coat in the chill of the night. Being a gentle and humble in heart person means we understand who we are in Christ. All we are, all we have, all we do is solely due to God. Without Christ in our lives, we are nothing more than sinners condemning ourselves to perish. Yet even the sinner, who has not yet accepted Christ is the creation of God and thus he loves them as he does those of us who have accepted Jesus. Therefore the one who is gentle and humble in heart does not even consider themselves better than the vilest of sinners. We too are but sinners save by grace. There is nothing better within us than any other human upon this earth, except the Spirit. The reward for this attitude is to inherit the earth. It would make sense Jesus did not mean this planet earth, as it will be destroyed one day. The other word this original language could be translated is land. This would make far more sense in the context of Jesus first talking to the Jews who were always aware of the Promised Land, the land of Canaan. But to us the Promised Land has a totally different meaning, as well as the Jews have already occupied their promised land of Canaan. They were in it when Jesus spoke these words. So then those who have the attitude of Christ, being gentle and humble in heart will inherit the eternal Promised Land. Is this then a condition of salvation? No, by no means, no work, no deed, no behavior or attitude results in salvation. It is only through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior through faith are we saved. But then we are to take on certain traits of Christ. If we do not take them on then would that mean we are not saved? No, but the fact is that being saved means becoming like Christ. If then we are not in the process of being like Christ, would we be able to say that we never actually accepted him as our Lord and Savior? Maybe we just call ourselves Christians, but in actuality we have not submitted to his authority in our lives, being our Lord and Savior. However, if we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior, then it would make sense we have also submitted to his authority in our lives, giving over our own will to him, setting aside our own wants and desires for the greater purpose of God. In doing that we would then desire to be more like Jesus, taking on his character of being gentle and humble in heart. It is sort of a cause and effect. We are happy, we have an inner peace knowing our position in Christ rather than being concerned about our position in the church. This inner peace brings us to the place of complete trust in God for our salvation, which gives us eternal life.