Week 3 "Blessed are the meek" helped me understand Week 2 "Blessed are those who mourn"

After listening to week 3 - "Blessed are the meek" I finally had something to mourn about, my own lack of meekness!

I had many thoughts about last weeks sermon on meekness.  I will only focus on two and make brief comments on them.

#1.  The meekness list.  DJ kind of rambles off a list of what "meekness" looks like.  For the most part I agree with him, but my brief comment is, "I don't think it is that black and white."
Jesus "aggressed" the temple........how does that fit?
Jesus flips over tables, fashions a whip, and drives out the money changers......how does that fit?
Jesus confronts His followers and the religious crowd constantly with the question...."Did I offend you?"
Moses murders a guy........Meek?

I just don't think it is as black and white as DJ makes it sound.  I believe the process of life that God takes us through produces meekness only because of the ONE who we followed through the process.  I know DJ said that in his sermon. 

#2     Moses' response to the sin and complaining of the Israelite people is a HUGE example of meekness to me.  Since January, I have made my way through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  I don't have an exact number on this, but Moses' response to Israel's complaining and outright sin is to fall to his knees and plead to God for forgiveness.  Many times God wants to destroy the people, but Moses intervenes on behalf of the people.  I have counted this response so far and it is above 10 times!  His response is counter my natural response to what I read.  My first response is, "Smoke them Lord!" Moses' response is to hit the deck and pray.

Blessed are the Meek!

Lord, forgive me for my lack of meekness in many situations.  All it reveals is how often I go into a situation alone because I think, "I got this" and I am not following you.

James 1:19-27
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

-Reid