Matthew 5: 1-13 - The Beatitudes (those who are humble)

Another continuation of my interpretation and explanation of The Beatitudes. Tonight's is the third in the list...

"5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth."

Depending on what translation of the bible you are reading, some say the "meek" versus the "humble". Relatively an interchangeable word, so if you see it spelled out differently in a different translation, don't freak, it's all synonymous.

So what does it mean to be meek / humble? And why are they getting the earth? And when? And why does God bless these people? What is it about those who show humility that grants them favor by God?

Truly excellent questions (Thanks...hehehe...guess that wasn't very humble of me...boo...:( I'm learning...being a Christian is knowing you're a constant work in progress)...

So, I'm not going to take the professorial approach to this by saying "So let's define what it means to be humble, well, Webster's Dictionary defi..." you get my point...instead I'll define it by my understanding of what it means through the examples in my life. I remember the majesty of the nights while camping in the Rockies...I remember looking up to the sky and seeing more stars that I knew existed and was in awe. I remember that caused me to realize how big this world is and despite how big I thought I was in my world, I was humbled. I remember the countless times I was positive I was right over an issue...any issue...whatever it is...only to find out I was blatantly wrong and was humbled by it. Lastly I remember how confident I was that I could stand up to sin and defeat it in myself. I was wrong again and I was humbled.

Humility is a submission and a strength to God. It is the realization that God is in everything. It is the realization that God is everything and I am nothing. A man who is humble gives over his will to God. Thus he doesn't say "because of my faith in God, I can do anything!", rather he says "because of my faith in God, I ask that He does as He wills through me and strengthens me to serve Him." In Psalm 76:9, it says "You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth."

My Lord, I know my heart and I know where you and I stand on this issue...in the past I have feared to trust you, feared to assume that you, alone, know what is best. But how I can continue to live that way knowing that I, myself, don't know any better. You see everything, create everything, guide everything and to love you is to trust you...I pray my lord, that as we travel our path together that I find humility and a complete trust in Your will. I want you to guide me, there is a permanent peace in that...a real peace, not some fraudulent misrepresented peace that fades. And I know my weaknesses my lord and I know they exist because I don't perfectly love and trust you. I acknowledge this and I hope that I can pay you much more than lip service to this...because even as I type I fail...

My Lord help me to take up the cross and follow you...