名實相符
帖撒羅尼迦前書四章1至11節
1弟兄們，我還有話說：我們靠著主耶穌求你們、勸你們，你們既然受了我們的教訓，知道該怎樣行，可以討神的喜悅，就要照你們現在所行的，更加勉勵。
2你們原曉得我們憑主耶穌傳給你們甚麼命令。
3神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行；
4要你們各人曉得怎樣用聖潔、尊貴守著自己的身體，
5不放縱私慾的邪情，像那不認識神的外邦人。
6不要一個人在這事上越分，欺負他的弟兄，因為這一類的事，主必報應，正如我預先對你們說過，又切切囑咐你們的。
7神召我們，本不是要我們沾染污穢，乃是要我們成為聖潔。
8所以，那棄絕的，不是棄絕人，乃是棄絕那賜聖靈給你們的神。
9論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們，因為你們自己蒙了神的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛。
10你們向馬其頓全地的眾弟兄固然是這樣行，但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵。
11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手做工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的。
信息分享
對今天的信徒來說，這兩部份的教導都非常適合。正如有人說過：「我們寧願去傳福音，卻不太願意活出福音。」但保羅在第1節卻勸勉我們，活著要討神喜悅，並且要天天進步。
保羅特別關注貞潔的問題。他在第3節告訴我們，神的心意是要我們成為聖潔，或是為神分別為聖，以致我們這些屬祂的人能夠像祂。保羅提出的準則，包括對待婚姻與性愛的正確態度，這些乃是神讓人用以向配偶表達愛意和委身。
將性愛局限於婚姻關係內的觀念，許多現代人都會認為是過時了。他們認為，年輕人不必等到結婚便可以縱情性愛。撒但更在高中學生中間運用朋輩壓力，來使青少年基督徒屈服於「人人都這樣做」的壓力。
自古至今，神的心意都是永不改變的──人只可以在婚姻關係內，與自己的配偶享受親暱的性愛關係。
我們當怎樣向我們的家人，以及年輕一代的基督徒傳達這個準則呢？我們是否該用禱告來承托他們，且讓他們知道我們是何等愛護他們，只希望他們得著最好的福份？批評是很容易的，但他們最需要的，是我們天天的扶助。
讓我們今天為兒女及教會的年輕人禱告。
LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-11
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given[a] us His Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
Message
Both sections are very relevant today. As someone has said, "We are more ready to preach the Gospel, than we are to live it." Paul said in verse 1 that we need to live so as to please God, and do it more and more.
Paul dealt specifically with immorality. In verse 3 he told us that it is God's will for us to be sanctified, or set apart unto God and that which belongs to God must be like him. This Christian standard includes marriage and the right use of sex as the God-given expression of love and commitment.
The context of sex is only within the bond of marriage, a very out-of-date idea according to most people today. They say there is no need for young people to wait until they are married. Peer pressure in high schools is a terrible weapon aimed by Satan at our Christian young people to make them give in to 'what everyone is doing'.
God's plan has always been the same for every age and every couple - Personal intimacy is to be only with your marriage partner and only within the marriage bond.
How can we communicate these standards to our families and Christian young people today? Can we surround them with prayer and let them know how much we love them and want only the very best for them? It is very easy to criticize but they need our help daily instead.
PRAY TODAY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF YOUR CHURCH AND/OR FAMILY.