许多信徒面临的一大困难是无法达到《圣经》中关于纯洁的高标准。我们所在社会的道德观，加上互联网和其他媒体，使我们不容易按照神的诫命生活。在非洲，我们的许多信徒都是家里的第一代基督徒。我们很多人都是父亲第二个或第三个妻子的孩子。比如，我自己的父亲就娶了近十个妻子，而我的母亲是他的第二任妻子。如你所见，我家对待性行为的方式与我在《圣经》中读到的极为不同。
然而，保罗说，基督徒绝不能有一丝一毫的淫乱、污秽或贪婪。在这里，保罗说的是我们心中的欲望。是什么驱使着你？什么对你最重要？你最大的渴望是什么？这些与神的话语呼召你成为的人相符吗？
我们必须在与主和祂话语的个人关系中，不断更新对性和渴望的观点。无论我们生活在哪里，所有基督徒都应如此。使徒提醒我们，我们因与基督的联合而成为圣洁。因此，我们蒙召过全新的生活，这种生活是以对神国度的深切渴望为标记的。
亲爱的天父，感谢你藉着你的儿子耶稣基督使我们成为圣洁的人。请帮助我们遵行你话语的教导，在所做的选择中为你而活。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
以弗所书 5:3-7
3至于淫乱并一切污秽，或是贪婪，在你们中间连提都不可，方合圣徒的体统。
4淫词、妄语和戏笑的话都不相宜，总要说感谢的话。
5因为你们确实地知道，无论是淫乱的，是污秽的，是有贪心的，在基督和神的国里都是无份的；有贪心的，就与拜偶像的一样。
6不要被人虚浮的话欺哄，因这些事，神的愤怒必临到那悖逆之子。
7所以你们不要与他们同伙。
"Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people." - Ephesians 5:3
One major difficulty for many believers is to try to live up to the Bible’s high standard for purity. The morals of the societies we live in—along with the internet and other media—do not make it easy to live God’s way. In Africa, many of my fellow believers are first-generation Christians in our families. We are often the children of our father's second or third wife. My own father, for example, married nearly ten wives, and my mother was his second wife. As you can see, the way sexuality was treated in my family is extremely different from what I read in the Bible.
Yet Paul says that Christians must not have even a hint of sexual immorality, other impurity, or greed. Here Paul is addressing the desires of our hearts. What drives you? What is most important to you? What is your greatest desire? Does it match with what God’s Word calls you to be?
Our view of sexuality, and of desires in general, must be constantly renewed in a personal relationship with the Lord and his Word. This is true for all Christians, no matter where we live. The apostle reminds us that we are holy through our union with Christ. And, as a result, we are called to new life that is marked with a deep desire for God’s kingdom.
Dear Father, thank you for making us holy through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to live for you in the choices we make, following the instructions in your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
