Looking to the eternal

God has put eternity into man’s heart. 1 We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. We have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. 2

We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 3

And this is the promise that he made to us – eternal life, 4 eternal redemption, 5 eternal salvation, 6 eternal glory, 7 eternal comfort, 8 eternal dwellings, 9 eternal inheritance, 10 eternal joy, 11 eternal light, 12 eternal love. 13

 

1 Ecc 3.11 2 2Cor 4.18-5.2 3 2Cor 4.16-17 4 1Jn 2.25 5 Heb 9.12 6 Heb 5.9 7 2Tim 2.10 8 2Th 2.16 9 Lk 16.9 10 Heb 9.15 11 Isa 61.7 12 Isa 60.19 13 Jer 31.3 

Christian love

All of you share in God’s grace with me. I have you in my heart. 1

Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 2 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. 3

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement. 4

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 5 l long to see you so that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. 6 Though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 7

My brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord dear friends. 8

I urge you to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 9

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. 10 My love to all of you Christ Jesus. Amen. 11

 

1 Phil 1.7 2 2Tim 1.3 3 Phil 1.3-5 4 Philemon 7 5 Phil 1.8 6 Rom 1.11-12 7 Col 2.5 8 Phil 4.1 9 Rom 15.30 10 Gal 6.18 11 1Cor 16.24

Do not fear

God says 

 

Thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 1

I, I am he who comforts you; why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die, a human being who fades like grass? You have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. 2

Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my teaching in your hearts; do not fear the reproach of others, and do not be dismayed when they revile you. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my deliverance will be forever, and my salvation to all generations. 3

I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” 4 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. 5

Do not be afraid I am your shield. 6 I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed. 7

 

1 Isa 43.1 2 Isa 51.12-13 3 Isa 51.7-8 4 Isa 41.13 5 Ps 50.15 6 Gen 15.1 7 Josh 1.5,9

Forever

Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever. 1 But whoever does the will of God abides forever. 2 

His saints are preserved forever. 3 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 4 

He will swallow up death forever. 5

 The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever. 6 And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore. 7

 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 8 Steadfast love will be built up forever. 9

 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom. 10 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 11 

 1 Ps 92.7 2 1Jn 2.17 3 Ps 37.28 4 Ps 125.2 5 Isa 25.8 6 Dan 7.18 7 Mic 4.7 8 Isa 32.16-17 9 Ps 89.2 10 Mt 13.43 11 Dan 12.3

Unity in Christ

All of you who were baptised into Christ have yourselves with Christ. You are all one in Christ Jesus. 1

You are a chosen race. You once were not a people, but now you are the people of God. 2

There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman. 3 There is neither male nor female. 4 But Christ is all, and in all. 5

Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. 6

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 7 You are all brothers. 8

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 9 All of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, 10 having been knit together in love. 11

May God grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 12 The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 13

 

1 Gal 3.27-28 2 1Pt 2.9-10 3 Col 3.11 4 Gal 3.28 5 Col 3.11 6 Eph 4.3-6 7 Gal 3.26 8 Mt 23.8 9 Ps 133.1 10 1Pt 3.8 11 Col 2.2 12 Rom 15.5-6 13 2Cor 13.14

Hold fast

Take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called. 1 Take hold of the life that really is life. 2

Take good care to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him. 3

Hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. 4 Hold fast to love and justice. 5 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 6

Let us hold fast to what we have attained. 7 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 8 For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. 9

Do not abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. 10 Hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 11

Keep yourselves in the love of God, look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 12 These are the words of the Son of God, “Only hold fast to what you have until I come.” 13

 

1 1Tim 6.12 2 1Tim 6.19 3 Josh 22.5 4 Rom 12.9 5 Hos 12.6 6 Prov 3.3 7 Phil 3.16 8 Heb 10.23 9 Heb 3.14 10 Heb 10.35 11 Josh 23.8 12 Jude 1.21 13 Rev 2.18,25

I walk in Your faithfulness

O LORD your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. 1

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 2 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. 3

You will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 4 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk in the light of life. 5

When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. 6 You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. 7

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 8 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 9 

Preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. 10 Keep steady my steps according to your promise. 11

 

1 Ps 26.2-3 2 Ps 23.4 3 Ps 138.7 4 Ps 40.11 5 Ps 56.13 6 Ps 94.18 7 2Sam 22.37 8 Ps 119.105 9 Ps 119.35 10 Ps 140.4 11 Ps 119.133

My hope

 I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 1 

My hope is from him. 2 

Surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God. 3 God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. 4 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. 5 

He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. 6 God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. My God in his steadfast love will meet me. 7 

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. My heart faints within me! 8 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 9 

Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation. 10 And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 11

 1 2Tim 1.12 2 Ps 62.5 3 Isa 49.4 4 Ps 49.15 5 2Tim 4.18 6 Mic 7.9 7 Ps 59.10 8 Job 19.25-27 9 1Cor 13.12 10 Ps 35.9 11 Ps 23.6

Promises for My people

God says

 

I will save my people, 1 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise, 2 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory. 3

My dwelling place shall be with them. 4 They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 5

Before they ccall I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 6 

They shall dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine. 7 Their life shall be like a watered garden. 8 They shall be fruitful and multiply. 9 They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 10

Behold, my servants shall eat, my servants shall drink, my servants shall rejoice, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart. 11 And my people shall be satisfied with my goodness. 12

 

1 Zec 8.7 2 Isa 43.21 3 Isa 43.7 4 Ezek 37.27 5 Jer 31.34 6 Isa 65.24 7 Hos 14.7 8 Jer 31.12 9 Jer 23.3 10 Ezek 34.28 11 Isa 65.13-14 12 Jer 31.14

The LORD has done great things for us

The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. 1 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 3 

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 4

He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 5 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 6

God has blessed us in the heavenly realm with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 7 He has given us his very great and precious promises. 8 He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 9

The LORD has done great things for us, and we filled with joy. 10

 

1 Ps 118.27 2 2Cor 4.6 3 Col 1.13 4 Titus 3.5 5 1Pt 1.3 6 1Jn 5.11 7 Eph 1.3 8 2Pt 1.4 9 2Cor 1.21-22 10 Ps 126.3

The LORD sees

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”?

Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”? 1

Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nation not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The LORD knows all human plans. 2

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 3 His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step. There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide. 4

The LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. 5 He knows the secrets of the heart. 6 The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 7 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 8

 

1 Isa 29.15-16 2 Ps 94.9-11 3 Heb 4.13 4 Job 34.21-22 5 1Chr 28.9 6 Ps 44.21 7 1Sam 16.7 8 2Chr 16.9

Before the world was made

God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time – to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 1 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 2

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 3 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 4

God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. 5

This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere , so that they too might believe and obey him. 6 We speak of the mystery of God – his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 7

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. 8

Rejoice because your names are registered in heaven, 9 written in the Book of Life before the world was made. 10

 

1 2Tim 1.9 2 Eph 1.4 3 Rom 8.29 4 Eph 1.5 5 1Pt 1.20 6 Rom 16.25-26 7 1Cor 2.7 8 Eph 1.9-10 9 Lk 10.20 10 Rev 13.8

What God will do for you

The LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 1

The LORD will guide you continually. 2 He will make straight your paths. 3

He will sustain you. 4 God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 5

He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. 6

He will guard you from the evil one. 7 He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 8

He will strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 

The LORD will reward you. 10 He will give you the desires of your heart. 11

He will exalt you. 12 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. 13

 

1 Deut 15.10 2 Isa 58.11 3 Prov 3.6 4 Ps 55.22 5 Phil 4.19 6 Isa 30.19 7 2Th 3.3 8 Ps 91.11 9 1Cor 1.8 10 Prov 25.22 11 Ps 37.4 12 Jam 4.10 13 Ps 37.6

I will declare Your greatness

 I will extol you, my God and I will declare your greatness. 1

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains, your judgments are like the great deep. 2 

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more can be told. 3

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day. My tongue will talk of your righteous help. 4 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. 5 I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 6

I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation. 7 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 8

 

1 Ps 145.1,6 2 Ps 36.5-6 3 Ps 40.5 4 Ps 71.15,24 5 Ps 22.22 6 Ps 71.16-17 7 Ps 40.9-10 8 Ps 71.18

Idolatry

 God says

 

My people have forgotten me, they burn me offerings to a delusion; they have stumbled in their ways and have gone into bypaths not the highway. 1 They went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves. 2

My people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. 3

They have taken their idols into their hearts, and placed their iniquity as a stumbling block before them; shall I let myself be consulted by them? 4

For they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces. But in the time of their trouble they say, “Come and save us!” But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble. 5 

Besides me there is no saviour. 6 Repent and turn away from your idols. 7 

You shall have no other gods before me, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God. 8

 

1 Jer 18.15 2 Jer 2.5 3 Jer 2.11 4 Ezek 14.3 5 Jer 2.27-28 6 Hos 13.4 7 Ezek 14.6 8 Ex 20.3

Do not worry

 Do not be anxious about anything. 1

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 2

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you. 3 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 4

Have faith in God. 5 His understanding no one can fathom. 6

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. 7 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 9

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. 10 He who watches over you will not slumber. 11

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. 12

 

1 Phil 4.6 2 Mt 6.27 3 Ps 55.22 4 Prov 3.5 5 Mk 11.22 6 Is 40.28 7 Ps 62.8 8 1Pt 5.7 9 Mt 6.34 10 Josh 1.9 11 Ps 121.3 12 Phil 4.6-7

I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds. 1

You divided the sea, 2 opened the rock, 3 shut the lion’s mouths. 4

The wall fell down, 5 the sun stood still. 6

A speechless donkey spoke, 7 ravens brought bread and meat. 8

You changed the water into wine, 9 rebuked the winds and the sea, 10 opened the eyes of the blind. 11

How great are your works, O LORD! 12

I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things. 13

 

1 Ps 77.11-12 2 Neh 9.11 3 Ps 105.41 4 Dan 6.22 5 Josh 6.20 6 Josh 10.13 7 2Pt 2.16 8 1Kin 17.6 9 Jn 4.46 10 Mt 8.26 11 Jn 11.37 12 Ps 92.5 13 Isa 25.1

Pleasing God

The sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 1

It is impossible to please God without faith. 2 

The LORD’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. 3 He delights in those with integrity. 4

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honour and please the Lord. 5

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness. 6

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. 7 

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 8

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 9

May God equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. 10

For the Lord delights in you. 11

 

1 Rom 8.7-8 2 Heb 11.6 3 Ps 147.11 4 Prov 11.20 5 Col 1.9-10 6 Eph 5.10-11 7 Heb 13.16 8 Col 3.23-24 9 Col.3.20 10 Heb 13.21 11 Isa 62.4 

God created the heavens

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.

Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. 1

For God is so wise and so mighty. He alone has spread out the heavens. 2

The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 3

He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. 4

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 5

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 6

Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! For he issued his command, and they came into being. 7

 

1 Isa 40.26 2 Job 9.4 3 Ps 33.6 4 Job 9.9 5 Rom 1.20 6 Ps 19.1-4 7 Ps 148.3-5 

Anger

  Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm. 1 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 2

 Love is patient and kind. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 3 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. 

4 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. 5 Short tempered people do foolish things. 6 A hot tempered person starts fights; a cool tempered person stops them. 7 

The wisdom from above is peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. 8 The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control. 9 

Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 10 Understand this, my dears brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 11 

 1 Ps 37.8 2 Eph 4.31-32 3 1Cor 13.4-5 4 Prov 19.11 5 Prov 29.11 6 Prov 14.17 7 Prov 15.18 8 Jam 3.17 9 Gal 5.22-23 10 Eph 4.26-27 11 Jam 1.19-20

My Servant

 God says

 

Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 1

He will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. 2

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honours of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. 3

My servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. 4 

I will beat down his adversaries before him and destroy those who hate him. I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth. 5 He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. 6

Look at my servant, whom I strength. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. 7 This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him. 8

 

1 Zec 3.8 2 Isa 42.1-3 3 Isa 53.11-12 4 Isa 52.13 5 Ps 89.23 6 Jer 23.5 7 Isa 42.1 8 Mt 17.5

 

 

We know

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 1

We know that there is no God but one. 2 

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. 3

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death has dominion over him. 4

We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we have believe in Christ Jesus. 5

We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 6

We know that we passed out of death into life. 7

We know that we abide in God and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 8

We know that he hears us in whatever we ask. 9

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good. 10

We know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 11

We know that when Jesus appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 12

 

1 Heb 11.1 2 1Cor 8.4 3 1Jn 5.20 4 Rom 6.9 5 Gal 2.16 6 Rom 6.6 7 1Jn 3.14 8 1Jn 4.13 9 1Jn 5.15 10 Rom 8.28 11 2Cor 5.1 12 1Jn 3.2

Content in the Lord

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 1

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 Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. 2

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 3 God has been gracious to me and I have all I need. 4

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup. 6 My cup overflows. 7

 

1 Phil. 4.12-13 2 Hab 3.17-19 3 Phil. 4.11 4 Gen 33.11 5 Ps 23.1 6 Ps 16.5 7 Ps 23.5

Love your enemies

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 1

If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. 2

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 3

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 4 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 5

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 6

 

1 Lk 6.27,31 2 Ex 23.4-5 3 Prov 25.21-22 4 Lk 6.32-34 5 Mt 5.47 6 Lk 6.35-36

Let us praise the LORD

Come, let us shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song. For the LORD is a great God. 1

Proclaim His greatness with me; let us exalt His name together. 2 Praise Him for His powerful acts. 3 

The LORD has brought about our vindication; come, let’s tell in Zion what the LORD our God has accomplished. 4

Sing for joy to God our strength. 5 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory. 6

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. 7

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven. 8 For His faithful love to us is great; the LORD‘s faithfulness endures forever. Hallelujah! 9

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen. 10

 

1 Ps 95.1-3 2 Ps 34.3 3 Ps 150.2 4 Jer 51.10 5 Ps 81.1 6 Rev 19.7 7 Ps 95.6-7 8 Lam 3.41 9 Ps 117.2 10 Rev 7.12

Blessed are the LORD’s people

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart. 1

Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 2 The LORD their God is with them. 3

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause. 4

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. 5 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 6 They are preserved forever. 7

They will be called “sons of the living God” 8 And they will all be taught by God. 9 

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. 10 They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 11

Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! 12

 

1 Ps 119.1-2 2 Ps 34.10 3 Num 23.21 4 Jer 50.34 5 Ps 92.12-13 6 Ps 125.1 7 Ps 37.28 8 Rom 9.26 9 Jn 6.45 10 Ps 34.5 11 Isa 40.31 12 Ps 144.15