Category
VERSES FOR OFFERINGS
Think about giving – it's truly beautiful in God's eyes. When you're preparing your offering, remember it should be your best, given with a sincere heart. It should be a joyful act, knowing how much God has already blessed us with, even when we don't deserve it. He's been incredibly generous, hasn't He?
If you only give what's leftover, well, life might just mirror that back to you. Think about it – give as if you're giving to yourself. Don't do it out of obligation or because you expect something in return. True giving comes from the heart.
Don't make a big show of it either. It's not about getting praised or patted on the back. Let your giving be a quiet act between you and God. He sees what's in your heart, and He loves a cheerful giver. Remember what it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Giving is an act of worship, a way to give back a portion of what God has already given us. And when God gives, He gives abundantly. When you offer from the heart, you're opening the door for even more blessings. The more you give, the more you receive. It's a beautiful cycle.
You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy.
The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
Whoever comes to you who does not affirm this teaching should neither be received nor welcomed into your home,
because welcoming people like that is the same thing as sharing in their evil actions.
Don’t befriend people controlled by anger; don’t associate with hot-tempered people;
otherwise, you will learn their ways and become trapped.
Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.
But now I’m writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls themselves “brother” or “sister” who is sexually immoral, greedy, someone who worships false gods, an abusive person, a drunk, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with anyone like this.
There are persons for companionship, but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.
She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears on her cheek. None of her lovers comfort her. All her friends lied to her; they have become her enemies.
Brothers and sisters, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to stay away from every brother or sister who lives an undisciplined life that is not in line with the traditions that you received from us.
After a first and second warning, have nothing more to do with a person who causes conflict,
because you know that someone like this is twisted and sinful—so they condemn themselves.
Those who work the land will have plenty to eat, but those with worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
Jehu son of Hanani the seer came out to meet him and said, “Why did you help the wicked? Why have you loved those who hate the LORD? This is why the LORD is angry with you.
I don’t spend time with people up to no good; I don’t keep company with liars.
I detest the company of evildoers, and I don’t sit with wicked people.
Take note of anyone who doesn’t obey what we have said in this letter. Don’t associate with them so they will be ashamed of themselves.
Don’t treat them like enemies, but warn them like you would do for a brother or sister.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one incompetent person destroys much good.
The righteous offer guidance to their neighbors, but the path of the wicked makes them wander.
The truly happy person doesn’t follow wicked advice, doesn’t stand on the road of sinners, and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.
Instead of doing those things, these persons love the LORD’s Instruction, and they recite God’s Instruction day and night!
They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don’t fade. Whatever they do succeeds.
and don’t participate in the unfruitful actions of darkness. Instead, you should reveal the truth about them.
Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness?
If only, God, you would kill the wicked! If only murderers would get away from me—
the people who talk about you, but only for wicked schemes; the people who are your enemies, who use your name as if it were of no significance.
Don’t I hate everyone who hates you? Don’t I despise those who attack you?
Yes, I hate them—through and through! They’ve become my enemies too.
You were running well—who stopped you from obeying the truth?
This line of reasoning doesn’t come from the one who calls you.
A little yeast works through the whole lump of dough.
Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.
Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for people who create divisions and problems against the teaching that you learned. Keep away from them.
People like that aren’t serving the Lord. They are serving their own feelings. They deceive the hearts of innocent people with smooth talk and flattery.
But as for you, man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life—you were called to it, and you made a good confession of it in the presence of many witnesses.
My son, don’t let sinners entice you. Don’t go
when they say: “Come with us. Let’s set up a deadly ambush. Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.
Let’s swallow up the living like the grave— whole, like those who go down into the pit.
We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth; we’ll fill our houses with plunder.
Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share our money.”
My son, don’t go on the path with them; keep your feet from their way,
Those who walk in innocence walk with confidence, but those on crooked paths will be found out.
They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are vicious wolves.
Trusting a treacherous person at a difficult time is like having a bad tooth or a wobbly foot.
If, my child, you stop listening to discipline, you will wander away from words of knowledge.
Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too.
Run away from adolescent cravings. Instead, pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work.
If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up!
So they were filled with all injustice, wicked behavior, greed, and evil behavior. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deception, and malice. They are gossips,
they slander people, and they hate God. They are rude and proud, and they brag. They invent ways to be evil, and they are disobedient to their parents.
They are without understanding, disloyal, without affection, and without mercy.
Though they know God’s decision that those who persist in such practices deserve death, they not only keep doing these things but also approve others who practice them.
Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.
Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world.