Command 25 : Take My Yoke | Day 172

Learn the Nature of Jesus!

Of all the character qualities that Jesus could have chosen to describe Himself, why did He select "meekness" and "lowliness of heart"? He chose these qualities because they perfectly describe His nature and ministry.

Meekness is not weakness. Rather, it is submitting our strength to our heavenly Father's control.

A powerful and swift horse demonstrates meekness when it allows its rider to determine its direction, speed, and distance. In like manner, Jesus demonstrated meekness when He determined to do nothing except the will of His heavenly Father. The Hebrew word for meekness is ′anavah, which comes from a root word that has also been translated as "abase self," "chasten self," and "humble (self)." Jesus demonstrated meekness in the following ways:

• He yielded His right to all the riches and treasures of heaven and was born into a poor family in a despised community. His primary ministry was among the poor and needy. In fact, He came to preach the Gospel to the meek. (See II Corinthians 8:9 and Isaiah 61:1.)
• He yielded His right to be everywhere (omnipresent) and subjected Himself to the physical limitations of a body. Now He is exalted at the right hand of God and dwells in the hearts of all who receive Him. (See Romans 8:34 and Ephesians 3:17.)
• He yielded His right to the independent exercise of His divine power and was subject to His parents and to the government rulers who put Him to death. (See John 14:31, Luke 2:51, and Isaiah 53.)

Taking on Christ's yoke means that we embrace His perspective about all of life: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

To the degree that we humble ourselves we will experience the great rewards of meekness.

Great treasures are reserved for those who learn and demonstrate meekness. We are told, “He will beautify the meek with salvation" (Psalm 149:4). Through meekness we can experience direction for daily decisions, because “the meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

The blessing of meekness involves an inner tranquility of the spirit, soul, and body. Let's take on Christ's yoke of a meek and quiet spirit as we daily surrender our rights and expectations to Him and learn His nature.