昨天我们提到，宇宙对于一些有侵略性的人的苛求，不会给予任何回应。承受地土的是温柔的人，即是那些柔顺、顺服和降服的人。英国社会学家赫胥黎（Thomas Huxley）曾说：「科学要求我们要好像小孩子一样降服在事实面前、要放弃任何先入为主的观念、愿意接受在大自然的引领下一切的结果，否则你只会一无所知。」

今天，我打算与你集中思想在八福里所描述的温柔这种素质（温柔有时翻译为谦卑或柔和）。那不是一种与生俱来的气质，而是因为认识基督、顺服基督的结果。当然，八福阐述的所有素质都是这样──它们是属灵的特征，不是自然的表现。这一点我需要再详加解释，因为很多基督徒说：「我天生富侵略性，所以我不可能成为温柔和温和的人。」

每一位基督徒，无论本身个性怎样，也可以成为温柔的人。这种温柔与自然品性无关，因为它是由神的灵制造出来的素质，就好像大卫这样有能力和非凡本性的人，也有他温柔的一面。又好像使徒保罗这样的人，智慧过人，个性有力而出众，但不要忘记他有极大的谦卑以及柔和的心。这些人怎能有这么美好的修养呢？不是因为他们天生倾向温柔，而是因为基督和圣灵居住在他们的内心。这不是来自天生的基因，而是来自神的恩典。

Yesterday we touched on the point that the universe will not respond to the aggressive, who approach it in a demanding spirit. It is the meek - those who are yielded, submissive and compliant - who inherit the earth. Thomas Huxley is quoted as saying something which we commented on earlier: "Science says to sit down before the facts like a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, be willing to be led to whatever end nature will lead you, or you will know nothing."

Today we must focus our thinking on the fact that the quality of meekness (sometimes translated as humility or gentleness) described in is not the result of natural temperament, but comes from knowing Christ and abiding in Him. That goes, of course, for all the qualities enunciated in - they are spiritual characteristics, not natural ones. This point needs elaborating, for there are many Christians who say: "I am aggressive by nature, so it is not possible for me to be a meek and mild person."

Every Christian, whatever their natural temperament, is meant to be meek. It is not a matter of natural disposition; it is a quality produced by the Spirit of God. Think of the powerful and extraordinary nature of a man like David - and yet observe his meekness. Look at a man like Paul the apostle, a master mind, a powerful and outstanding personality, yet consider his great humility and gentleness. How did these men get to be like this? Not because of a natural proneness toward meekness, but because they were indwelt by Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of genes; it is a matter of grace.