The Strange, the Meek, the Inheritors of the World

Some Bible verses are harder to trust than others.

Especially when people shoot Christians inside their own houses of worship

Especially when it’s natural to want to retaliate, to talk revenge, to plan self-defense

Especially when others exploit the grieving moment to spread lies about us, to try to divide, to further their agendas, to stir hate.

I read Psalm 37 and draw instruction but it requires faith for me to rest my heart in these verses:

“In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” Psalm 37:10-11 (ESV)

Hard to trust this passage knowing it was penned thousands of years ago. God’s idea of “in just a little while” is far different from mine.

Hard to trust these verses knowing just how wicked the wicked are, that we live in a time where people will invent ways of doing evil, that my loved ones are in the line of fire.

Hard to trust when from what I see, the only way the meek will acquire anything is by inheritance, from what I see the meek are disrespected and reviled, from what I see the meek live without power and with a promised future their only comfort. Hard to think it wise to enlist with the meek.

Still, God is still God. His Word is true. Others have trusted Him before lions, blazing fires, Nazis, killing fields, communist regimes, slave hunters, and world powers. I choose to trust Him now.

It is a costly trust and yet, in the end, when I receive my inheritance, it will seem a small thing.

So, you know we must brace ourselves for these days. We are the weird ones. We are about to seem weirder still. These are times Peter wrote about when he penned these words:

“In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:4-5 (ESV)

People who indulge in sinful practices, who reject the living God, who unite in their shared worldview that is opposed to Christ will think us strange. Therefore, we must embrace the strangeness of our condition and wear it like a gold star sewn to the sleeves of our souls for we belong to Him who was also thought strange when He walked this earth.

And Peter bids us gird our selves to act according to our calling:

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. I Peter 4:7-9 (ESV)

This is our preparation. Like buying batteries before a storm. Like filling the bathtub with water before a hurricane. Like locating the exits on the plane. We should be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. Clean lines of communication, people, we’re going to want them open.

And love. We are to love one another earnestly. If you don’t love the people in the next pew or beside you in bed or in the cubicle beside you or who have a different skin color, now is the time to learn. Now.

And welcome one another into our homes, our churches, our perspectives with grace not grumbling.

That’s right, people, no grumbling. Let’s just see if we can practice that one thing. For one week. Okay, start with twenty-four hours. Baby steps.

And trust. Trust that “in just a little while, the wicked will be no more.” So, you know, don’t be one of the wicked.

Better to stand with us, the strange, the meek, the inheritors of the world.

**Remember to join with other believers in prayer midweek, Wednesday,June 24, to intercede for Charleston, SC, for the families of those who were killed, and for our country. Pray also that the killer and those who believe as he did will repent and turn and trust Jesus Christ with their lives. Where nine have fallen, let nine hundred rise to take up the baton of prayer they dropped when they were shot down as they stood up for Jesus.