阅读经文 

温柔可能是圣灵的果子中最少被谈及的一个，尽管它常常被忽视，但它却是靠着圣灵生活的人最重要的品格特征之一。在圣经中，温柔也叫做谦卑，它是耶稣登山宝训中一个突出的美德。耶稣教导我们：“温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土”。（太 5:5）

我们今天的世界不重视温柔。相反，我们是大声的、喧闹的、嘈杂的、卖弄的、令人生厌的、急躁的。一位评论家将我们北美的文化描述为“不安、无根、无情”。温柔是这些的反面。温柔的人不是躁动不安，而是沉着冷静；不是无根无蒂，而是稳重踏实；不是无情无义，而是尊重他人。温柔在圣经中的同义词包括谦卑、温顺、体贴、礼貌、尊重和高贵。

我们往往把温柔的人评价为懦弱。但温柔其实是将巨大的力量控制住的结果。从圣经意义上讲，最强大的人是那些敢于温柔的人。而引导我们最好的榜样就是耶稣。

耶稣呼吁说：“我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，这样，你们心里就必得享安息。”（太 11:29）成为温柔或谦卑就是被神和基督塑造，蒙圣灵引导。今天，求圣灵格外赐下温柔谦卑。

Gentleness is probably the least-talked-about fruit of the Spirit. And even though it is often overlooked, it is one of the most important character traits of people who live by the Spirit. In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches us, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

Our world today does not value gentleness. Instead we are loud, boisterous, rowdy, showy, obnoxious, and pushy. One commentator described our culture in North America as "restless, rootless, and ruthless." Gentleness is the opposite of these. Gentle folks are not restless but calm and composed, not rootless but stable, not ruthless but respectful. Biblical synonyms for the word gentle include humble, meek, considerate, courteous, respectful, and noble.

We tend to categorize gentle people as wimps. But gentleness is actually the result of bringing great strength under control. In a biblical sense, the strongest people are those who dare to be gentle. And the best example to guide us is Jesus.

Jesus calls out, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29). To be gentle or meek is to be God-molded, Christ-shaped, and Holy Spirit-directed. Ask the Spirit for an extra measure of gentleness today.