You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:28-30
Fake it til you make it. We’ve all been there. Navigating a new job, a family crisis, or just the day to day stresses of life - we’ve all tried to appear as if we’ve got it together. If I’m being honest, there are many times when I feel insecure. Even if I act strong and tough on the outside, I often feel pretty powerless and insignificant on the inside.
Today we tend to interchange the term meek with weak. But true meekness is anything but weak. In fact, Jesus shows us that meekness is actually a strength. Using His strength, Jesus carried our burdens on the cross. Using His strength, He displays His gentleness and meekness to those recognizing their need for a Savior.
Ok, so maybe Jesus wasn’t weak. But, what does it mean for me to walk in meekness? For the rest of us, meekness is an understanding of our story in light of God’s glory. It is a willingness to face the reality of who I am in the sight of a holy God. Simply, it’s viewing my life through the lens of the Gospel.
It’s a perspective shift in how we view our lives. Meekness recognizes that all I have is from God and it is my joy in life to point back to Him. As John says, we need to get out of the way. God must increase and we must decrease. Why? Because the story that is being written with my life is a story that is all about Him. My story is for His glory.
As we recognize our place in the story of God’s love and grace, we begin to experience true happiness. If it is not about me, I can truly celebrate with others. I can rejoice at the way God is using my life. I can live with a settled assurance that for me, the best is yet to come!
*Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Cedarcrest Church
