October 30

The mightiness of meekness

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Prov. 29:23).

Pride was Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall—“Is not this great Babylon which I have builded?” Do we take glory from God after doing some small service for Him? Can God trust us with success or are we like the vain woodpecker in the following story?
“A certain woodpecker flew up to the top of a high pine tree and gave three hard pecks on the side of the tree as woodpeckers are wont to do. At that instant a bolt of lightning struck the tree, leaving it on the ground, a heap of splinters. The woodpecker had flown to a tree nearby where it clung in terror and amazement at what had taken place. There it hung expecting more to follow, but as all remained quiet, it began to chuckle to itself saying, ‘Well, well, well! Who would have imagined that just three pecks of my beak could have such power as that!’”

Pride is a natural trait in man; humility comes only with grace from God. “In all the copious language of the Greeks,” says John Wesley, “there was not one word for humility till it was made by the great apostle Paul. The whole Roman language, even with all the improvements of the Augustan age, does not afford so much as a name for HUMILITY (the word from whence we borrow this, as is well known, bearing in Latin a quite different meaning).”

It is the best filled stalk of corn that bends its head the lowest.

Oh, the mightiness of meekness. There are thousands whom God is yearning to use, in the soul-winning work, but dare not. Success would turn their heads and be their ruin.
—Catherine Booth.

Humility, the fairest, loveliest flower
That bloomed in paradise, and the first that died.
It is so frail, and delicate a thing
That if it look upon itself it’s gone;
And he who ventures to esteem it his
Shows by that very thought he has it not.
—Caroline Fry.

Read full article...