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. | But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. |
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. |
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For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. | For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. |
For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God. | For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. |
And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. | I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. |
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. | If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. |
As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. | “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. |
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. | Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. |
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! | If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. |
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” | Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” |
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! | How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! |
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. | Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. |
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. | As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. |
And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” | Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” |
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. | And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. |
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! | Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. |
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” | Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” |
Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise. | Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. |
Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. | Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. |
So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other. | So acknowledge today and take to heart that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. |
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. | And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. |
May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. | May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. |
My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. | My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. |
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. | All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. |
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. | Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. |