Caulfield Evangelical Methodist Church
- Weekly Pastoral Message -

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"Continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" Acts 2:42

Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 1st February 1998


From the Pastor: Proverbial Texts II

"The meek shall inherit the earth"

This text from Matthew 5:5 has too become a proverbial expression. For most people it is said with a sigh of resignation when one falls into a finacial hole, has a friend or loved one desert him, or suffers some other kind of reverse or difficulty.

Now it needs to be said firmly that "the meek" are not those who are the victims of circumstances, but those who voluntarily take the path of injustice and wrongful treatment. In this our Lord Himself was the supreme example in suffering the height of injustice at the hands of both religous people (the Jews), and those who prided themselves on their law and judiciary (the Romans).

On the contrary, the Beatitude of our Lord is very much at odds with the world's outlook. The people who utter this proverb so glibly: do they really believe it? Rather, is it not worldly thinking to insist:

    "Blessed are those who push their rights; they will defeat their opponents."
    "Blessed are the trumpet-blowers; they will have a large audience."
    "Blessed are the celebrities; they will enjoy fame and success."
    "Blessed are the monied; they will have all they want."

All this is to assert, "the powerful, the pushers, and the agitators will inherit the earth."

However, there is one thing the worldly person misses completely: this world will not last forever, even less will any inhabitant thereof. He will endure for a while; but in eternity, when the final accounts are reckoned up, only those who endured the invectives of unbelief and stood for their Lord will receive the eternal inheritence. The Beatitude is a promise for the world to come. If you beleive it, it will change your outlook on the present too.

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Caulfield Evangelical Methodist Church
Please email comments to: cemc@genesis.net.au
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