We . . . urge you . . . to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1

我们……劝你们……要照你们现在所行的更进一步。-帖撒罗尼迦前书4章1节

My son loves to read. If he reads more books than what is required at school, he receives an award certificate. That bit of encouragement motivates him to keep up the good work.

我的儿子很喜欢阅读。如果他阅读的书籍超过学校指定阅读的数量，学校就会颁发一张奖状给他。这样的鼓励，促使他继续保持阅读的好习惯。

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he motivated them not with an award but with words of encouragement. He said, “Brothers and sisters, 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” (1 Thess. 4:1). These Christians were pleasing God through their lives, and Paul encouraged them to continue to live more and more for Him.

当保罗写信激励帖撒罗尼迦教会时，他并非颁发奖赏，而是说些鼓励的话。他写道：“弟兄们，我们在主耶稣里求你们，劝你们，你们既然接受了我们的教训，知道应该怎样行事为人，并且怎样讨上帝喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的更进一步”（帖撒罗尼迦前书4章1节，新译本）。这些基督徒的生活讨上帝的喜悦，所以保罗鼓励他们更加努力，继续为上帝而活。

Maybe today you and I are giving our best to know and love and please our Father. Let’s take Paul’s words as an incentive to continue on in our faith.

也许你我现在也是尽心地爱我们的天父、竭力地认识祂，并尽力地讨祂的喜悦。让保罗的话语成为我们的激励，使我们在信仰上得以继续前进。

But let’s go one step further. Who might we encourage today with Paul’s words? Does someone come to mind who is diligent in following the Lord and seeking to please Him? Write a note or make a phone call and urge this person to keep on in their faith journey with Him. What you say may be just what they need to continue following and serving Jesus. 

不过，让我们更进一步思想，今天我们可以用保罗的话语激励什么人呢？你心中有想到谁是努力跟随耶稣，且致力讨祂喜悦的呢？不妨写个短信或打通电话给他，鼓励他持续跟随上帝，走在信心的道路上。也许他正需要你的话语，让他能继续跟随及服事耶稣。

Dear Lord, thank You for encouraging me through Your Word to keep living for You.

亲爱的主，谢谢祢藉着祢的话语鼓励我，

继续为祢而活。

Encourage someone today to keep living for God.

今天就去鼓励人，继续为主而活。

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, 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 your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another 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 of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and 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.

整理：于姊妹