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