From death to life

 We know that we have passed from death to life. 1

You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. 2

The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. 4

But the Spirit gives life. 5 Inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 6 God has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 7

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life – 8 eternal life to which you were called, 9 life that is truly life, 10 life that is in Christ Jesus. 11

 

1 1Jn 3.14 2 Eph 2.1-5 3 Rom 8.2 4 Rom 5.12 5 2Cor 3.6 6 2Cor 4.16 7 2Pet 1.4 8 Rom 6.13 9 1Tim 6.12 10 1Tim 6.19 11 2Tim 1.1

I will lead you

God says

 

I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. 1 Walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you. 2 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 3

Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. 4 I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 5

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. 6 I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble. 7

I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. 8

I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. 9 I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 10

These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. 11

 

1 Isa 48.17 2 Jer 7.23 3 Josh 1.7 4 Gen 28.15 5 Jer 3.14 6 Ezek 34.15 7 Jer 31.9 8 Ezek 34.13 9 Isa 42.16 10 Isa 49.11 11 Isa 42.16

The LORD’s garden

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also. 1 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 2

And they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.” 3

For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew. 4 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. 5

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. 6

 

1 Isa 45.8 2 Isa 61.11 3 Ezek 36.35 4 Zec 8.12 5 Psa 85.10-13 6 Hos 10.12

Blessed is the man

The LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 1

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. 4

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD. His righteousness endures forever. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 5

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 6

 

1 Psa 34.8 2 Psa 40.4 3 Psa 1.1-2 4 Jer 17.7-8 5 Psa 112.1,3,6-8 Jam 1.12

Give praise to God

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” 1 How manifold are your works! 2

Great is your power! 3 Strong is your hand! 4

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 5 How abundant is your goodness! 6 Great is your faithfulness! 7 Great is your mercy! 8

How precious are your thoughts, O God! 9 How sweet are your words! 10 True and just are your judgments! 11 Just and true are your ways! 12

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! 13

 

1 Psa 66.1-3 2 Psa 104.24 3 Psa 66.3 4 Psa 89.13 5 Psa 36.7 6 Psa 31.19 7 Lam 3.23 8 Psa 119.156 9 Psa 139.17 10 Psa 119.103 11 Rev 16.7 12 Rev 15.3 13 Psa 8.1

We proclaim Christ as Lord

We have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ. 1

We make it our aim to please him, 2 our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 3

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. 4 

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 5

The love of Christ controls us. He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him. 6 What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord. 7

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus. 8 Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 10 We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 11

Thanks be to God, who through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. 12

 

1 Gal 2.16 2 2Cor 5.9 3 Jude 4 4 2Cor 5.10-11 5 1Cor 1.23-24 6 2Cor 5.14-15 7 2Cor 4.5 8 2Cor 4.13-14 9 Rom 14.8 10 2Cor 3.12 11 2Cor 5.20 12 2Cor 2.14-16

Chosen by God

God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 1

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favour and will. 2

For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified. 3

By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures, 4 appointed to eternal life. 5

We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will. 6

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 7 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. 8 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 9

 

1 2Tim 1.9 2 Eph 1.4-5 3 Rom 8.29-30 4 Jam 1.18 5 Ac 13.48 6 Eph 1.11 7 Rom 8.31 8 Rom 8.33 9 1Th 5.9

My covenant

God and Jesus says

 

This is my covenant, My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring, from this time forth and forevermore. 1

I will never leave you not forsake you. 2 

I will never break my covenant with you. 3 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed. 4 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 5

I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 6 Whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 7 I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. 8

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 9

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 10

 

1 Isa 59.21 2 Heb 13.5 3 Judg 2.1 4 Isa 54.10 5 Mt 24.35 6 Mal 3.6 7 Jn 6.37 8 Jer 32.40 9 Jer 31.33-34 10 Mt 26.28

Better

 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. 1 Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. 2 

Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. 3 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. 4 Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house with feasting – and conflict. 5

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies – so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time. 6

Wisdom is better than strength. 7 Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. 8

How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgement than silver. 9 Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. 10

 

1 Psa 37.16 2 Prov 15.16 3 Prov 19.1 4 Prov 16.19 5 Prov 17.1 6 Ecc 7.2-4 7 Ecc 9.16 8 1Tim 4.8 9 Prov 16.16 10 Prov 22.1

I will

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you. 1 I will trust in you. 2 I will be glad and exult in you. 3

I will delight in your statutes. 4 I will meditate on your precepts 5 I will run in the way of your commandments 6

I will sing praises to you. 7 I will tell of your name to my brothers. 8 I will teach transgressors your ways. 9 I will declare your greatness. 10 I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 11 I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. 12

I will give thanks to you. 13 I will bless you as long as I live. 14 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love. 15 I will glorify your name forever. 16

 

1 Isa 25.1 2 Psa 55.23 3 Psa 9.2 4 Psa 139.16 5 Psa 119.78 6 Psa 119.32 7 Psa 71.22 8 Psa 22.22 9 Psa 51.12 10 Psa 145.6 11 Psa 9.1 12 Psa 89.1 13 Psa 30.12 14 Psa 63.4 15 Psa 31.7 16 Psa 86.12

Care for believers worldwide

Love the brotherhood. 1

The gospel that has come to you is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you. 2 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord your God will call. 3

Pray at all times in the Spirit with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints, 4 all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord – both their Lord and ours, 5 all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. 6

For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body. God has put the body together so that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. 7 The same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. 8 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. 9

Share with the saints in their needs. 10

We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. 11 God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints – and you continue to serve them. 12 You are showing faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers, especially when they are strangers. 13

 

1 1Pet 2.17 2 Col 1.5-6 3 Ac 2.39 4 Eph 6.18 5 1Cor 1.2 6 Eph 6.24 7 1Cor 12.13, 24-26 8 1Pet 5.9 9 Heb 13.3 10 Rom 12.13 11 Col 1.4-5 12 Heb 6.10 13 3Jn 1.5

The LORD lightens my darkness

The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 1 I cry aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying. 2

For the LORD my God lightens my darkness. 3 God my Maker gives songs in the night. 4 God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 5

God has been my shepherd all my life long to this day. 6 God watched over me. His lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness. 7 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 8

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 9

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. 10

 

1 Psa 143.3-4 2 Psa 77.1-2 3 Psa 18.28 4 Job 35.10 5 1Jn 1.5 6 Gen 48.15 7 Job 29.2-3 8 Jn 1.5 9 Psa 27.1 10 Mic 7.8

My thoughts

You, O LORD, know me; You see me and test me. 1 You discern my thoughts from far away. 2

I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands. 3 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. 4 I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 5

When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees. 6 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night. 7 My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. 8

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 9 Let the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 10

 

1 Jer 12.3 2 Psa 139.2 3 Psa 143.5 4 Psa 119.97 5 Psa 119.15-16 6 Psa 119.59 7 Psa 63.5-6 8 Psa 119.148 9 Psa 139.23-24 10 Psa 19.14

My plans for you

God says

 

I know the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope. 1 With everlasting love I will have compassion on you. 2

I will snap the bonds that bind you. 3 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked. 4 I will save you. 5

I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal. 6 I will comfort you. 7

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. 8 I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters. 9

I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean. 10 I, I am he, who blots put your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 11

I will make with you an everlasting covenant. 12 I will take you for my wife forever in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 13

I will indeed bless you. 14 And you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Saviour. 15

 

1 Jer 29.11 2 Isa 54.8 3 Nah 1.13 4 Jer 15.21 5 Zec 8.13 6 Jer 30.17 7 Isa 66.13 8 Ezek 36.26 9 2Cor 6.17-18 10 Ezek 36.25 11 Isa 43.25 12 Isa 55.3 13 Hos 2.19 14 Gen 22.17 15 Isa 60.16

Our heavenly city

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 1

We are foreigners and strangers as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow. 2 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come, 3 the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. 4 Our citizenship is in heaven. 5

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 6 Look on Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken. 7

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 8 No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”; and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven. 9 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 10 And the name of the city will be: THE LORD IS THERE. 11

 

1 Heb 11.8-10 2 1Chr 29.15 3 Heb 13.14 4 Heb 12.22 5 Phil 3.20 6 2Cor 4.18 7 Isa 33.20 8 Rev 22.3 9 Isa 33.24 10 Rev 21.25 11 Ezek 48.35

Resisting temptation

The grace of God has appeared training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. 1

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 2 Because Jesus himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 3

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit. 4

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 5

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith. 6 Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from faith. 7

Sin is crouching at the door. It’s desire is for you, but you must rule over it. 8 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 9

 

1 Titus 2.11-12 2 1Cor 10.13 3 Heb 2.18, 4.15 4 Eph 6.10-12, 16-18 5 Rom 12.21 6 1Pet 5.8-9 7 Jam 4.7 8 Gen 4.7 9 Rom 6.14

Freed from the law

When we were in the flesh, the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us and bore fruit for death. 1 We were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. 2

But now we have been released from the law. 3

The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 4 God sent His Son to redeem those under the law. 5

He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. 6 Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus. 7

We may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law. 8 The Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 9 For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life. 10 

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 11 In the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 12 

Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. 13

 

1 Rom 7.5 2 Gal 4.3 3 Rom 7.6 4 Jn 1.17 5 Gal 4.4-5 6 Col 2.14 7 Rom 8.1 8 Rom 7.6 9 Rom 8.2 10 2Cor 3.6 11 2Cor 3.17 12 Gal 4.8-9 13 Gal 5.1

LORD forgive us

LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O LORD, could ever survive? 1 For our sins testify against us. 2

We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. 3 Our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 4 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. 5

But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. 6 O LORD, you are so good, so ready to forgive. 7

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! 8

Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy. 9 Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 10 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD.  Restore us again, O God of our salvation, revive us again. 11

 

1 Psa 130.3 2 Isa 59.12 3 Dan 9.5 4 Ezra 9.6 5 Isa 64.6 6 Psa 130.4 7 Psa 86.5 8 Mic 7.18-19 9 Psa 123.3 10 Mt 6.12 11 Psa 85.4,6-7 

The universe’s existence

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 1 He spoke, and it came to be, he commanded, and it stood firm. 2

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 3

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens, 4 who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it. 5

There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 6

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 7

For by Jesus all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things hold together. 8 He upholds the universe by the word of his power. 9

 

1 Heb 11.3 2 Psa 33.9 3 Gen 1.3 4 Jer 10.12 5 Isa 42.5 6 1Cor 8.6 7 Jn 1.1-3 8 Col 1.16-17 9 Heb 1.3

Water for the thirsty

 Water for the thirsty

 

Blessed are those who thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 1

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 2

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 3

To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life. 4 Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. 5

Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 6

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. 7

 

1 Mt 5.6 2 Isa 41.17-18 3 Isa 44.3 4 Rev 21.6 5 Jn 4.14 6 Jn 7.37-38 7 Isa 55.1

Jesus suffered as we do

Since God’s children have flesh and blood, Jesus too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 1

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. 2

Jesus wept. 3 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears. 4

Being in anguish, he prayed earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 5

Christ suffered in his body. 6 He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. He was oppressed and afflicted. 7 He was crucified. 8

But we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 9

 

1 Heb 2.14-17 2 Isa 53.3-4 3 Jn 11.35 4 Heb 5.7 5 Lk 22.44 6 1Pt 4.1 7 Isa 53.5 8 2Cor 13.4 9 Heb 2.9-10

Only God can save

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 1 In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength. 2

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 3

Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 4 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trusts in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. The Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. 5

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death. 6

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 7

 

1 Psa 146.3 2 Isa 45.24 3 2Sam 22.32 4 Jer 17.5 5 Isa 31.1 6 Psa 33.16-19 7 Psa 20.7

My life in Christ

Even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvellous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me. 1 I was blind, and now I can see! 2

God had mercy on me. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. 3 I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. 4

May I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 5 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 6

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 7

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 8

 

1 Gal 1.15-16 2 Jn 9.25 3 1Tim 1.13-14 4 Phil 3.9 5 Gal 6.14 6 Gal 2.20 7 Phil 3.8-11 8 Phil 1.21

Peace from God

The LORD give his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. 1 But there is no peace for the wicked. 2

Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 3 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. 4 Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 5

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 6

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 7

I pray that God will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. 8 For the Kingdom of God is goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 9 May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. 10

 

1 Psa 29.11 2 Isa 48.22 3 Rom 8.6 4 Rom 12.2 5 Eph 4.22-23 6 Phil 4.8-9 7 Phil 4.6-7 8 Rom 15.13 9 Rom 14.17 10 2Th 3.16

The LORD will be your confidence

You are God’s people. 1 You are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 2

Your sins are forgiven for Jesus’s name’s sake. 3 And you have overcome the evil one. 4

You are strong. 5 The joy of the LORD is your strength. 6

You stand firm in your faith. 7 For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 8 He will sustain you to the end, guiltless. 9

You will walk on your way securely. 10 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 11

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 12 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 13 For the LORD will be your confidence. 14

 

1 1Pet 2.10 2 1Pet 4.14 3 1Jn 2.12 4 1Jn 2.14 5 1Jn 2.14 6 Neh 8.10 7 2Cor 1.24 8 1Jn 4.4 9 1Cor 1.8 10 Prov 3.23 11 Psa 121.7 12 Psa 91.5-6 13 Prov 3.24 14 Prov 3.26

I will do something new

God says

 

Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth, will you not be aware of it? 1

All the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal. 2 Lift up your eyes to the sky, then look to the earth beneath; for the sky will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not wane. 3 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. 4

I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; and my salvation will not delay. 5 Preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed. How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it; who keeps from profaning the sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. 6

For just as the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before Me, so your offspring and your name will endure. 7

 

1 Isa 43.18-19 2 Zeph 3.8 3 Isa 51.6 4 Isa 65.17-18 5 Isa 46.13 6 Isa 56.1-2 7 Isa 66.22