Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions. Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,
those who are nothing but potsherds
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’? For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. For no word from God will ever fail. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
without painful toil for it. How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.Next verse!With image