8月22日
标 题：温柔的人
经 节：温柔的人有福了！因为他们必承受地土。（马太福音五章5节）
大家一提到温柔，通常就想到软弱。耶稣使温柔这个字有不同的意义。他对温柔的描绘是一匹完全驯服的种马。这匹马曾经竭力挣脱控制，并且用尽全力拒绝被指挥，然而，牠现在完全顺服牠的主人。这匹种马并没有失去它的力量或忍耐，它只是完全将这些主权交给主人。
对基督徒而言，顺服需要我们将意志全然顺服主。温柔并不是顺服身边每一个人，而是走神要我们走的方向。温柔代表我们不需要保护自己的权益，而是让主为我们辩护。温柔代表一个顺服圣灵的生命，愿让神自由地在我们身上，改变他认为需要改变之处。温柔包括节制，节制是来自全心地信任神。温柔会表现出忍耐的态度，愿让神处理自己所遇见的不公。
耶稣的生命是温柔的典范。他可以吩咐一整个军团的天使，把他由十字架上救下来，然而，祂允许罪人折磨自己，并且杀了自己。虽然耶稣不是没能力保护自己，但他选择在神的旨意中全然顺服。他顺服乃是因为完全相信天父。当我们怀疑天父时，我们倾向于用自己的力量解决事情，而不是倚靠他的大能。耶稣说，把我们的生命主权交给神，我们将得到丰盛的生命。
The Meek
“Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5)
In popular thinking the term meek implies weakness. The word Jesus used
had a different meaning. His picture of meekness is that of a stallion that has
been brought into subjection to its master. Whereas it once fought against any
attempt to bring it under control, resisting direction with all its strength,
now it yields its will to its master. The stallion has lost none of its
strength or endurance; it has simply turned these over to the control of the
master.
For the Christian, meekness requires submitting our will to the Master.
Meekness is not submitting to everyone around us, it is taking our direction
from God. Meekness means that we do not have to defend our rights, but we allow
the Lord to defend us. Meekness means a life that is submissive to the Holy
Spirit, giving Him the freedom to make any changes He knows are necessary.
Meekness involves a self-control that comes from trusting God. Meekness
demonstrates an attitude of long-suffering that allows God to deal with the
injustices we face.
Jesus’ life was the paragon of meekness. He could have called upon
legions of angels to remove Him from the cross, yet He allowed sinners to
torture and kill Him. Although Jesus was by no means powerless to defend
Himself, He chose to yield His life to the Father’s will. He did this because
He trusted the Father completely. When we doubt the Father, we tend to act in
our own strength, rather than relying on His power. Jesus said that in
relinquishing control over our lives to God, we will gain life in abundance!
