- But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!
- For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
- I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded. - For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
as brief as a few night hours. - I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.
- Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
- And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.
- For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. - So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
- For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
- For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
- O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me, for you do what is right. - Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.”
- The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.” - Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name goes all the glory
for your unfailing love and faithfulness. - This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’” - You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
- They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them. - Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
- “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
- For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.
- Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
- You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
- I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
- You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline;
whoever learns from correction is wise. People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.Next verse!With image