Melanie

Have you ever watched the movie "Gone With the Wind"?

Am I the only heathen here? 

The character Melanie in the movie beautifully illustrates meekness.

It would appear that Scarlett O'Hara is the strong one.

Melanie might appear weak in every way while Scarlett presses on to get what she wants.

Melanie has a sweet disposition. She always looks out for the other guy. She never seems to notice the weaknesses or blatant failures or abuses of others. Her love for others always covers a multitude of sins. She is always in control of her spirit. 

The Complete Word Study of the New Testament defines meekness this way:

"the meek ones are willing to see themselves as they really are."

The meek ones lean so heavily on God for strength that soon their humility is their strength. They know that apart from the Lord they are absolutely wretched, so they rely wholly upon Him to bring about right actions. 

I often act more like Scarlett. 

I am selfish and I want my way. 

I am more concerned with my own desires than those of others.

Greed and self interest motivate me to work very hard to get what I want.

However, Melanie is the beautiful cameo that I would love to portray in life.

She is gentle, kind, in control of her spirit. Her passions do not rule her. She loves genuinely and deeply. She considers others more important than herself. She is beautiful. She portrays a beautiful strength that can only come from the holiness and beauty of God.

Jesus walked in meekness on this earth. Meekness not weakness.

Vine's Concise Dictionary of the Bible defines meekness this way:

"it consists not on a persons outward behavior only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow-men; as little in his mere disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.........it is closely linked to the word for humility."

And:

"It must be clearly understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was "meek" because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all."

So, after reading that, this "Scarlett" must find a place on her face. I will not be satisfied until I can rise up in His likeness of meekness.

Matthew 5:5 (five is the number of grace : ) )

"Blessed.....happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous [that is, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions].......are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!"

Blessings,

Cheri