Well, today, I wanted to continue in these same verses in Peter. My motivation is somewhat circumstantial. More than most of my studies, this one will be personal. I hope you will bear with me. On my end, I have been actually studying these verses for a week or so. I am reading John Brown and Charles Spurgeon. And we will, Lord willing, get to incorporate the wisdom granted those men into more studies soon. Maybe even today? But, this week I heard a sermon from Colin Smith on meekness, and it struck me that his work on the Beatitudes was truly prescient.
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:19-25
When the paradigm shifts
Last week I had one of those perspective-shifting weeks that happen only once in many years. Because of the personal nature of the revelations to me, and because of the particularly personal nature of the others they involve, I cannot describe them here. What I can say is that two people most dear to me in the world revealed things to me about themselves. These facts about themselves had direct bearing and impact on me. The revelations showed me two reflections of my own self that I had neither considered nor thought to exist. They were, to say the least, extremely troubling to my mind, heart, and soul, and shook the foundation of my self-image.
It is hard to put this into words, exactly, because I want to be careful here. Both of my loved ones were not in the wrong. Or, if there were any wrong on their part, it was not wrong done to me. Regardless, what I learned from each shone light on shortcomings in my own behavior, attitude, and person that I had not realized existed. I experienced the mental and emotional feeling of free fall. I have heard the expression “having the rug pulled out from beneath you” so many times. But, I am not sure till now that I ever really experienced it.
Suffering, a cop out, and meekness
In short, I was and have been suffering. Now, there is a real question here of whether I experienced suffering for doing right or for doing wrong. After all, that is what Peter is discussing in these verses. How can I answer that? I think it is fair to say I have been doing both. A cop out? I thought this was a study about meekness!
What we are not talking about…
First, let me say these revelations were not of the accusatory kind, i.e., neither person came to me and said, “You have been doing X and it has hurt me.” Instead, both loved ones said, “I am feeling this way, and so am doing these things.” And, what was revealed to me was that I have deluded myself in thinking that I have been one sort of man, when really I have been quite another. This was a sort of paradigm shift.
Now we see in a mirror dimly
Imagine one of those closest to you pulled away a curtain to reveal a mirror. When you looked into that mirror you saw a reflection you didn’t recognize. There is a sense of confusion, fear, revulsion even. But, you move the eyes, the mouth, raise your hand to the glass, and must admit in the end it is your face. My first reaction was anger. My second reaction was pain. And, (praise God I got round to it quickly) my third reaction was to worship God.
A family is made of individuals with individual needs
Now, before I get into meekness, into Colin Smith, and into the example of our Lord, a few remarks. I make these remarks, not out of any real need for self defense, but to assure you, dear reader, of the situation. I have not hurt a loved one. Neither have I been a passive lump of a man, letting life happen to those around me. Indeed, in some ways I may have been too active. Though, in others obviously neglectful. I have kept them all in prayer, have sought to lead my family in a God-honoring way, kept the word before them, and have devoted myself to seeking what I felt was the best for my children. But, we are each of us individuals. And, individuals have individual needs, desires, dreams, etc. And, each member of the family needs a father and a husband who will take each need to heart.
Pride? What about meekness?
I have fallen short for sure, and that many times. But, last week brought me up short. It knocked me over. After all, have I not been at my all-time best? Look at all these things I do! Pride. Pride in spades. And now? Suffering. So, how about a little study in meekness?
Here’s Colin Smith to get us started. You will recognize this passage. We quoted it in full in yesterday’s study, Called to Suffer.
There are times in the life of every believer when God puts you in a place you would not choose to be. It may come through difficult circumstances at work, in the family, difficulties in church, or in regards to your health.
When God brings you to a place you would not choose, unbelief rises up from the flesh that always resists God: “This must mean that God does not love me.” Resentment grows and envy settles in: “Why does she have that blessing and it was not given to me?”
What does meekness look like when God puts you in a place that you would not have chosen for yourself? Come with me to a garden. It’s late and it’s dark. A few men are asleep in the garden. Further on, there is another man. His whole body is draped over a stone.
You walk closer and you see that he is sweating profusely. He is in an agony of soul. Then he says: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done” (Matthew 26:39).
Frame that picture. That’s meekness—Jesus submitting himself to the will of the Father at unimaginable cost! And this is what Jesus is calling us to do: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Colin Smith, Blessed Are the Meek
So, this feels familiar! But, I am thankful to God that in all I experienced last week, I never felt God did not love me. Rather, I felt I had let down those around me, and failed in my God-appointed mission. And, while I really don’t believe failed is the right word. I had not done all God appointed me to do. (It’s easy to know that from here, less than a week later, seeing changes already from doing more/other than I was doing before.)
The pull of passivity
There is a part in me that, when faced with a situation like this, so very much wants to resign, give up, let it go. I crave pure passivity. I want to say, “I have been so driven, and all it got me was this? Well, to hell with it!” I want to get a 6-pack and turn on TV, and just surrender. What about you? Am I the only one who sometimes feels this way? I doubt it. It is, after all, supremely selfish. And, I figure most people must struggle with selfishness. If you do not, then praise God for taking that curse from you!
The truth is real, perception may be
Colin Smith continues, but before we go on, I want to make something clear. Sometimes, people can reveal reflections of your character, as they perceive it. These are not always accurate. This happens often in a family. You may say something, but it is taken in a way you didn’t mean. Now there are hurt feelings and anger. The person who believes they have been wronged confronts you. But, in truth before God, you were actually not in the wrong. Perception dictates reality for all of us. So, we need God to dictate our perception. If He does so, we will see the actions of those around us rightly.
Now, in the struggles of last week there were some things revealed to me that showed shortcomings in my own character. But, there were also things revealed that showed misjudgements in the perceptions of one of my loved ones. Both cause the same sorts of complications, grief, and strife. But, I just want to point out that this is a study in meekness, and not a support for those who believe in elastic truth. There is no “your truth” and “my truth.” There is only truth. You may feel hurt by a perceived injury. But, it is your perception that is injuring you. The other party is not guilty simply because you feel they are or ought to be.
You ain’t no Moses
Okay, that aside, I do want to say that there is some great stuff from Colin Smith coming right now! But, let me caveat this by saying, I am in no way comparing myself or my situation to Moses. This is just some brilliant preaching from Mr. Smith. And, it can be equally applicable for those suffering real injuries from others as well as those suffering perceived injuries. Let’s read what Smith says about Moses and meekness.
Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3)
Why does the Bible say this? Think about what he had to endure. God calls this guy out of retirement to lead the people of Israel who had been slaves for 400 years. What must the pressures have been like leading God’s people?
By God’s grace, Moses led them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. He brought them to Sinai where God made a covenant with them. You’d think God’s people would be grateful to Moses, but they grumbled: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children?” (Exodus 17:3). Can you imagine believing people thinking like this about Moses?
By nature, my flesh would have said, “You’ve never seen such blessing, and all I hear is you moaning and complaining about what you don’t like.”
But Moses was not like that, so here’s what he did: He prayed for those who said the most ungrateful things about him. He even said to God that he would rather his own name was blotted out of God’s book, in order that they not be blotted out.
Far from meekness being a brand of weakness, it should be obvious by now that meekness is beyond us, and is only possible through the Spirit of Christ.
Colin Smith, Blessed Are the Meek
Suffering and prayer
I think in times of suffering we pray more. That seems universal. I have very much tried to cultivate a family atmosphere in which we pray often, and most often prayers of thanksgiving. It is almost comical how we go through day after day, saying prayers of gratefulness to God. Then, we have what might be described as an awful moment, or even an awful day. Do we pray? I hope so. I do. But, how much thankfulness and gratitude fill my prayers on those days? Not enough, I’d wager.
Prayer with thanksgiving
I am grateful to God. I am even grateful to God for the painful revelations. Why? Because in this time in which I find myself striving, studying, working to build my family on the rock of Christ, I can tend toward self-reliance. Isn’t that odd? Isn’t that basically hypocritical? But, facing yourself in that mirror, disfigured, or almost a stranger, you realize your desperate need for God. I am desperate for God to hold me up.
How do we respond to injury?
Now, before I continue with Colin Smith, I need to list another caveat. I can fairly, and even rightly, say that some of what I learned last week injured me. (While I am responsible, answerable, you might say, for everything that occurs and every person in my house, I am not at fault for every action, word, and deed of every person here.) And, in very childish ways I experienced such a desire to lash out. Even, I experienced the desire to return the blows, hit for hit.
Praise for sanctification
But, thankfully, God has had some good long time to bring about some level of sanctification within me. So, I was able immediately to recognize these desires for what they are, and go to God in prayer. There is nothing so helpful to me surrendering these urges to God. Prayer, along with quoting scripture (I often quote Psalm 23 over and over) are no doubt the best cure for suffering, pain, and overcoming the childish urges to retaliate we feel when we are injured by others.
In addressing being injured by others and today’s verses in Peter directly, Colin Smith says this, ending with a quote by Matthew Henry:
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23)
Christ could have said with absolute justice: “You wait!” But his justice is tempered with great mercy, and instead he says: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). That’s meekness.
How did he do that? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:23-24).
Meekness is seen in bearing wounds, forgiving injuries, and returning good for evil. Matthew Henry says,
Colin Smith, Blessed Are the MeekIf this be Christianity, the Lord help us! How little there is of this among those who claim the name Christian… We are called Christians… we name the name of the meek and lowly Jesus, but how few are actuated by his spirit, or conformed to His example.
Matthew Henry, Discourse on Meekness & Quietness of Spirit,” ch. 3: Lack of Meekness, Monergism, 2012.
Adieu
Well, this has grown long. And, I am ready to get on with the day. But, I hope to come back tomorrow and look at Mr. Smith’s following sermon on Meekness. I think it would be beneficial. It ties in so perfectly with Peter’s vision of the Christian imitating Christ in suffering, that I hate to skip it. More soon!
