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"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give
them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (II Tim. 2: 25).
Moses, whose petition raised him infinitely above his fellows, with whom God spoke
face to face, to whom in all the thunders of Sinai the law was given, Moses is recorded as
being "very meek, above all the men which were on the face of the earth" (Numb. 12: 3).
If Moses was meek, if Paul was meek, yea, if the Lord of Life and Glory was "meek and
lowly of heart", who are we to dare to walk abroad with high look, or to act towards our
fellows in a vain show? Without opening the Book, could our readers name the first
thing said of love in I Cor. 13:?
"Love suffereth long, and is kind" (verse 4).
Humility of mind and meekness are accompanied by this first expression of love, viz.,
longsuffering. Like meekness it is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22). It is placed as the
goal of the believer's walk in the parallel passage of Col. 1: 10, 11:--
"unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."
When Paul would set his own doctrine and practice before Timothy as an antidote to
the selfishness that shall characterize the perilous times of the last days, he says to him:--
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
love, patience" (II Tim. 3: 10).
We gather from various allusions in the epistles that Timothy was of a retiring,
shrinking nature. The rudiments of this world would teach such to develop self-assertion,
to see to it that others were kept well informed of their authority. What says the wisdom
of God?
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
LONGSUFFERING and DOCTRINE" (II Tim. 4: 2).
Is this the reason why so many are repelled? Is this the reason why some do not come
to a knowledge of the truth? We must make no mistake; the Word is to be fearlessly
preached; doctrine must be maintained, but the truth needs to be spoken in love, the
doctrine with longsuffering, the instruction and the restoration with meekness.
Lastly comes, "Forbearing one another". Not until our walk is manifested by these
gracious qualities may we proceed to that noble endeavour of keeping the unity of the
Spirit.
Let us, brethren, seek to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things
(Titus 2: 10).