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Against such, continues the Scripture, there is no law. The `touch not, taste, not,
handle not' of Col. 2: is a sure sign of the false humility. This spirit of meekness ever
looks back to our state by nature and our liability to fall.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one
in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal. 6: 1).
Meekness must go hand in hand with authority and teaching.
"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 position raised him infinitely above his fellows, with whom God spoke
face to face, is recorded as being `very meek above the 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 will 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,
charity, 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.