SUNDAY LESSON, 1/28/24
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: RESTRAINED POWER
Matthew 5:5, 11:28-29; Psalm 37:5-11
This Sunday I will be presenting the third lesson from the Beatitudes in the series titled: “PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS”. Jesus said “Blessed [happy] are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
We often equate meekness with weakness, but the word Jesus uses in the Greek is far from weakness. In fact, it refers to restrained strength or power. It is the same word that Jesus used in Matthew 11:29 to describe Himself as “meek” or “gentle”, and I certainly wouldn’t call Jesus a “weakling”.
MATTHEW 5:5
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
for they will inherit the earth.
MATTHEW 11:28-29 (ASV)
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
PSALM 37:5-11
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
