名实相符
帖撒罗尼迦前书四章1至11节
1弟兄们，我还有话说：我们靠着主耶稣求你们、劝你们，你们既然受了我们的教训，知道该怎样行，可以讨神的喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的，更加勉励。
2你们原晓得我们凭主耶稣传给你们甚么命令。
3神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行；
4要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体，
5不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不认识神的外邦人。
6不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄，因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过，又切切嘱咐你们的。
7神召我们，本不是要我们沾染污秽，乃是要我们成为圣洁。
8所以，那弃绝的，不是弃绝人，乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的神。
9论到弟兄们相爱，不用人写信给你们，因为你们自己蒙了神的教训，叫你们彼此相爱。
10你们向马其顿全地的众弟兄固然是这样行，但我劝弟兄们要更加勉励。
11又要立志作安静人，办自己的事，亲手做工，正如我们从前所吩咐你们的。
信息分享
对今天的信徒来说，这两部份的教导都非常适合。正如有人说过：「我们宁愿去传福音，却不太愿意活出福音。」但保罗在第1节却劝勉我们，活着要讨神喜悦，并且要天天进步。
保罗特别关注贞洁的问题。他在第3节告诉我们，神的心意是要我们成为圣洁，或是为神分别为圣，以致我们这些属祂的人能够像祂。保罗提出的准则，包括对待婚姻与性爱的正确态度，这些乃是神让人用以向配偶表达爱意和委身。
将性爱局限于婚姻关系内的观念，许多现代人都会认为是过时了。他们认为，年轻人不必等到结婚便可以纵情性爱。撒但更在高中学生中间运用朋辈压力，来使青少年基督徒屈服于「人人都这样做」的压力。
自古至今，神的心意都是永不改变的──人只可以在婚姻关系内，与自己的配偶享受亲暱的性爱关系。
我们当怎样向我们的家人，以及年轻一代的基督徒传达这个准则呢？我们是否该用祷告来承托他们，且让他们知道我们是何等爱护他们，只希望他们得着最好的福份？批评是很容易的，但他们最需要的，是我们天天的扶助。
让我们今天为儿女及教会的年轻人祷告。
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.