节制
每一个人的故事都是不同的，也是独特的。有些人在有信仰的家庭中出生，他们受到严谨的道德观和伦理规范的教导，从小他们便已经谨守这些教导了；有些在这种家庭中长大的人，却过着像圣经中“浪子的故事”那样的生活（参看路加福音 15:11-14）。有些人在没有宗教影响的环境下长大，但他们会紧紧跟随社会上流行的道德文化；有些则成长为一个彻头彻尾不受约束的人。
无论我们的背景如何，现在我们已蒙召成为信徒、按着神在衪的话语中为我们定下的规范来生活。我们可以在圣经中很多地方找到这个模式的记载，例如以弗所书4–5章，歌罗西书3章，和彼得前书4:1-11。细读这些经文时，我们可以看到，它们所说的与出埃及记20章和申命记5章中记载的十诫很相似。
我们有一个好消息，就是当我们与圣灵保持一致的步伐时，我们便会发觉旧的罪性会慢慢失去控制我们的能力。我们对邪恶的渴望和对恶行的“爱好”也会逐渐消失。在我们顺着圣灵的带领而生活时，遵循神的法则生活便会变得越来越甘甜了。
大多数果子都是甜美的，然而，没有任何果子比圣灵所结的果子更佳美。
天父啊，我们感谢你，你使我们放弃我们的罪性和陈旧的生活方式，又让我们看到，与圣灵步伐一致的生活才是最美好的生活。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
彼得前书 4:1-11
1基督既在肉身受苦，你们也当将这样的心志作为兵器，因为在肉身受过苦的，就已经与罪断绝了。
2你们存这样的心，从今以后就可以不从人的情欲，只从神的旨意在世度余下的光阴。
3因为往日随从外邦人的心意，行邪淫、恶欲、醉酒、荒宴、群饮并可恶拜偶像的事，时候已经够了。
4他们在这些事上见你们不与他们同奔那放荡无度的路，就以为怪，毁谤你们。
5他们必在那将要审判活人死人的主面前交帐。
6为此，就是死人也曾有福音传给他们，要叫他们的肉体按着人受审判，他们的灵性却靠神活着。
7万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎自守，警醒祷告。
8最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。
9你们要互相款待，不发怨言。
10各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服侍，做神百般恩赐的好管家。
11若有讲道的，要按着神的圣言讲；若有服侍人的，要按着神所赐的力量服侍，叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀——原来荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远！阿们。
Self-control
"They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you." - 1 Peter 4:4
Every person's story is different and unique. Some people were born into religious homes where strict morals and ethics were taught, and they followed these closely from their earliest days. Some people raised in such homes have a "prodigal child" story (see Luke 15:11-24). Still others were brought up apart from religion and yet followed cultural morals, while others grew up more or less wild through and through.
Regardless of our backgrounds, we are called now as believers to live according to the pattern that God sets out for us in his Word. We find this pattern in many places in the Bible such as Ephesians 4-5, Colossians 3, and 1 Peter 4:1-11. A close reading of these passages shows great similarity to the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.
The great news for us is that as we keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we will find that our old sinful nature slowly loses its grip on us. Our "taste" for sinful desires and behaviors gradually fades. Living God's way takes on a sweeter and sweeter flavor as we live our lives in step with the Spirit.
While most fruit is sweet, none is as sweet as the fruit of the Spirit.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for weaning us from our sinful desires and old ways, showing us that living in step with the Spirit is the best way to live. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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