Posted on 02/23/2019 9:07:12 AM PST by metmom
“‘Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth’” (Matthew 5:5).
God rewards the gentle with His own joy and gladness. But more specifically, He allows such saints to “inherit the earth.” In the future the Father will completely reclaim earth, and believers will rule it with Him. Because only believers are truly gentle, Jesus could confidently proclaim “they shall inherit the earth.”
“Inherit” denotes the receiving of one’s allotted portion and correlates perfectly with Psalm 37:11—“the humble will inherit the land.” We sometimes wonder why the godless seem to prosper while the godly suffer, but God assures us that He will ultimately make things right (cf. Ps. 37:10). We must trust the Lord and obey His will in these matters. He will settle everything in the right way at the right time. Meanwhile, we can trust His promise that we, as those who are gentle, will inherit the earth. This promise also reminds us that our place in Christ’s kingdom is forever secure (cf. 1 Cor. 3:21–23).
The promise of a future inheritance also gives us hope and happiness for the present. More than a century ago George MacDonald wrote, “We cannot see the world as God means it in the future, save as our souls are characterized by meekness. In meekness we are its only inheritors. Meekness alone makes the spiritual retina pure to receive God’s things as they are, mingling with them neither imperfection nor impurity.”
Ask Yourself
Yes, it often seems as though everyone “inherits the earth” but us mild-mannered believers. But what truly makes life enjoyable on the earth? And why do the curt and the coarsest among us not really get to experience its simple pleasures?
Studying God’s Word ping
There’s a time to be gentle and there’s a time to be beyond brutal.
““‘Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth’”
I thought it was the meek?
Gentle?? Never heard that one.
Love overcomes hate
Hate is empty Love is strong
Does this mean believers are to be pacifists?
Lord, deliver us from Casper Milquetoasts.
Whoever did the quotations section for our high school year book decided I’d be best captured by another quote from the Bible - “Be ye therefore wise as serpents and gentle as doves” - guess I’m in okay shape.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.