第四章1-12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，12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有甚麼缺乏了。

 

默想

1. 聖潔是指脫離罪惡，並順從基督，特別要緊的是要與世俗潮流有別。
2. 默想一下在充滿競爭的工作環境中、日常的家庭生活中、或者忙碌的學業中。懇求聖靈在我心中工作，教導并指引我，并思考在那件事上，我願意學習活出聖潔——與潮流有別——的生活？

 

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

I Thessalonians 4:1-12

1. Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  3. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4. that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5. not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6. and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12. so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Meditation

1. The call to holiness is a call to sever ties with sin and follow Christ in our daily life.  As we go along our journey of following Jesus, we are called to seek after a life of holiness—one that is different than that of the world—and one that we can only live by God’s grace and Spirit at work within us.
2. Take a moment to consider your surroundings, the competitive workplace, the stressful family life, or busy studies.  Pray that the Holy Spirit work within me to teach and guide me and show me specific aspects of my life that I need to seek to live out a life of holiness in all areas of your being.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.