Growing in Meekness (Day 3)
Strength Under Control
1 Peter 2:23 (ESV)
“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.”
“Meekness is not weakness; it is great strength under great control.”
Devotional Thought
How do you normally respond when wronged? Do you defend yourself? Retaliate? Try to prove your strength?
Jesus didn’t.
When He was reviled, He didn’t revile in return. When He suffered, He didn’t threaten. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the Father.
That is meekness.
Meekness isn’t being weak. It’s having strength and choosing not to use it for personal gain or defense. It’s having the power to strike back but choosing instead to trust God to make things right.
Jesus modeled this perfectly. Before His accusers, His enemies, and even His betrayers, He didn’t lash out or manipulate. He submitted to the Father’s plan and demonstrated controlled strength at every turn.
As followers of Jesus, we’re called to the same posture. Meekness does not mean silence or inactivity—it means power that is purposefully restrained and guided by love.
Jesus didn’t.
When He was reviled, He didn’t revile in return. When He suffered, He didn’t threaten. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the Father.
That is meekness.
Meekness isn’t being weak. It’s having strength and choosing not to use it for personal gain or defense. It’s having the power to strike back but choosing instead to trust God to make things right.
Jesus modeled this perfectly. Before His accusers, His enemies, and even His betrayers, He didn’t lash out or manipulate. He submitted to the Father’s plan and demonstrated controlled strength at every turn.
As followers of Jesus, we’re called to the same posture. Meekness does not mean silence or inactivity—it means power that is purposefully restrained and guided by love.
Application Questions
- In what situations do you feel most tempted to “revile in return” or retaliate?
- What makes it difficult to entrust yourself to God instead of defending your own name?
- How can you practice the kind of strength-under-control that Jesus modeled today?
Today's Challenge
Practice meekness in a moment of potential conflict:
If someone offends you, criticizes you, or treats you unfairly today, resist the urge to retaliate or defend yourself. Instead, entrust yourself to God. Respond with calm, controlled strength, motivated by love.
If someone offends you, criticizes you, or treats you unfairly today, resist the urge to retaliate or defend yourself. Instead, entrust yourself to God. Respond with calm, controlled strength, motivated by love.
Today's Prayer
Jesus, You had every right to defend Yourself, yet You chose the path of meekness and trust. Teach me to follow Your example. Help me to resist retaliation and entrust my life, my reputation, and my relationships to You. Let Your strength shape my responses. Grow in me a meekness that looks more and more like Yours. In Your name, Amen.
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