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Chinese (traditional)By his own choice he gave us birth through the way of truth so that we may be a kind of firstfruits of all his creation. For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord. If you keep my commandments,
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love. Do not assert that the past was better than the present,
for such a statement is not a sign of wisdom. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace when we are in need of help. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them can fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth far more than any number of sparrows. Then he went on, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For from within, from the human heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from within, and they defile a person.” But do not ignore this one fact, beloved: with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. As long as the goodwill is present, the gift will be acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Every good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. Jesus answered them,
“I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” The words of a wise man win favor,
but a fool’s tongue is his undoing. Whoever gains wisdom loves his own soul;
one who cherishes understanding will prosper. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.’ As even your own poets have said, ‘We are all his offspring.’ May the favor of the Lord, our God, rest upon us.
And may the work of our hands prosper—
indeed, may the work of our hands prosper. Beloved,
we are God’s children now.
What we shall be
has not yet been revealed.
However, we do know that when he appears
we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he really is.
Everyone who has this hope in him
keeps himself pure,
just as he is pure. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every respect as we are, but without sinning. Call to me and I will answer you and reveal to you great and mysterious secrets about which you are unaware. Whatever you ask in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you waverers. See what love
the Father has bestowed on us,
enabling us to be called the children of God,
and that is what we are.
If the world does not recognize us,
that is because it did not know him. But the Almighty we cannot find;
he is unequaled in power and judgment,
and in his righteousness he will not violate justice. Hence, be subject to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When you call out to me and come forth and pray to me, I will listen to you. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares about you. I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. O Lord, all my longing is known to you,
and my sighs are not hidden from you. Can a woman forget the infant at her breast;
or feel no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
Behold, I have inscribed your name
on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before my eyes. Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you should arm yourselves also with the same intention. For anyone who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for all of us. How then can he fail also to give us everything else along with him?