But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. We love because He first loved us. Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.Next verse!With image