A TEACHER HAD twelve students in his class…

He brought into the room a box of thirteen roses. Taking one of them out of the box, he passed it around the class asking each student to handle and smell it. Afterwards, he placed it back into the box. When the class period came to a close, he passed the entire box of roses around the room for each student to get one for themselves. With twelve students and thirteen roses, naturally there would be one left.

Which do you suppose it was?

It was the one everybody had touched — the one whose petals was falling off that did not look very fresh anymore.

In like manner, we urge all of our young people to avoid becoming used and soiled. Rather, we encourage them to preserve their chastity and purity at all costs, giving themselves to one man or one woman for life. (Allen Webster, “Why Not Be a Prodigal?”)

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Mike Benson