For the Kids
Enter:
What are some words you might use to describe someone who is strong?
Do you think people who practice self control and kindness are strong? Why or why not?
Hear:
Read the passage together:
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12) (vs. 5)
Back in early March, before this year’s rushed addition of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and all this Covid-19 shelter-in-place stuff we looked at the third Beatitude, which says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). You can access that message here. We find it surprising to hear Jesus blessing the meek, because meekness is not a quality that is honored much in our world. Meekness tends to be equated with weakness. We know that Jesus wasn’t talking about weakness when he blessed the meek, because He uses this same word to describe Himself and no one who honestly reads the gospels would think of calling Jesus weak.
People who display Jesus’ style of meekness are willing to give up their rights rather than to cause divisions. They are willing to yield in non-essential things to keep from having trouble. Jesus’ example of meekness is not weakness, but strength under control. A good image for understanding blessed meekness is that of a draft horse like a Belgian or a Clydesdale. These amazing creatures each stand nearly six feet tall and weigh around a ton. A kick from one of their powerful legs and massive hooves could easily crush a man’s skull, but these animals are naturally docile and when they’re trained properly they can work together to pull enormous loads that other horses couldn’t budge. That’s the image to hold in our minds when we hear Jesus saying: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Elsewhere, Jesus challenged us saying: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). When we are yoked to our mighty Savior, pulling in His direction toward the will of God, we can accomplish amazing things for the kingdom while resting in His limitless strength and goodness. According to Christ, this quality of meekness is blessed by God and will lead His faithful followers to inherit the earth when God brings heaven and earth together in His eternal kingdom.
What will it look like today if we begin to display the kind of meekness that Jesus says is blessed in His kingdom?
Bless:
Affirm what everyone has shared.
In prayer ask God to produce Christ-like, blessed meekness in your family’s story.
Pray together:
Example:
Father in heaven, we thank You for Jesus who invites us to yoke ourselves to Him and pull together with Him, sharing in His rest. Jesus showed us what a meek life is in Your kingdom, modeling strength under the control of Your Spirit all the way to the cross. We ask you to build that kind of blessed meekness into our family as we press forward together by faith through this pandemic. In Jesus’ name, Amen.