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 adulterous people! Don't you realize that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Those who want to be friends of the world make themselves enemies of God.
Happy are those who don't follow the advice of the wicked. They refuse to adopt the ways of sinful people, and they don't make fun of others.
If people come to you and don't show evidence of Christ's teaching, don't take them in, don't welcome them—
for if you encourage them you share in their evil work.
Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
Don't be in love with the world, and don't long for the things of this world. If you love the world, you won't have the Father's love in you.
Being friends with wise people will make you wise, but being friends with stupid people will only cause you problems.
What I meant when I wrote was that you shouldn't associate with anyone who is called a Christian who is immoral or greedy or worships idols; or who is abusive or a drunkard or who cheats others. Don't even share a meal with anyone like that!
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
She cries bitterly through the night, tears rolling down her cheeks. Despite all her many lovers, no one comes to comfort her. Betrayed by all her friends, they are now her enemies.
If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
Now we want to tell you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to associate with any believer who can't be bothered to work for their living—those who don't follow the teachings they learned from us.
Warn someone who is divisive once, and then again—after that don't pay them any attention,
realizing that they're perverse and sinful and have condemned themselves.
Violent people lure their friends, and lead them in a direction that's not good for them.
If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase fantasies you'll end up with nothing.
Jehu, son of Hanani, the seer went out to face him. He said to King Jehoshaphat, “Why are you helping the wicked? Why do you love those who hate the Lord? The Lord is angry with you because of this.
I don't join in with liars and I don't associate with hypocrites.
I refuse to get together with those who do evil, and I won't involve myself with the wicked.
Take note of anyone who doesn't do what we're telling you in this letter, and make sure you don't associate with them, so that they may become embarrassed.
Don't consider them enemies, but warn them as a brother or sister.
It's better to have wisdom than weapons of war; but a sinner can destroy a lot of good.
Good people look out for their friends, but the way the wicked live leads them astray.
Happy are those who don't follow the advice of the wicked. They refuse to adopt the ways of sinful people, and they don't make fun of others.
Instead they love to do what the law of the Lord says, and they think about it day and night.
They're like trees growing by flowing rivers, producing fruit every season. Their leaves never wither, and they are successful in all they do.
Don't have anything to do with the pointless things that darkness produces—instead expose them.
Don't join together with people who don't believe—for what connection does goodness have with wickedness? What do light and darkness have in common?
God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.
When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
You were doing so well! Who got in the way and prevented you from being convinced by the truth?
This “persuasion” certainly isn't from the one who calls you.
You only need a little bit of yeast to raise the whole batch of dough.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
Be responsible, and stay alert. The devil, your enemy, is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Don't be in love with the world, and don't long for the things of this world. If you love the world, you won't have the Father's love in you.
For all the things of this world—our sinful desires, wanting everything we see, boasting about what we've accomplished in life— these things don't come from the Father but from the world.
The world and its evil desires are coming to an end, but those who do the will of God will live forever.
Now I'm pleading with you my fellow-believers: watch out for those who cause arguments and confuse people about the teachings you learned. Stay away from them!
These people are not serving Christ our Lord but their own appetites, and by their smooth-talking and pleasant words they deceive the minds of unsuspecting people.
But you as a man of God should run away from such things. You should seek to do what is right, practice true religion, and trust in God. Aim to love, to be patient, and gentle.
Fight the good fight as you trust in God. Hold on tightly to the eternal life to which you were called. This is what you promised to do in front of many witnesses.
My son, if evil people try to tempt you, don't give into them.
They may tell you, “Come with us. Let's go and hide, ready to kill someone. Let's ambush someone for fun!
Let's bury them alive; let's put them in the grave while they're still healthy!
We'll take from them all kinds of valuable things and fill our homes with the stuff we steal!
Come and join us and we'll all share what we get!”
My son, don't follow their ways. Don't go in that direction with them.
Honest people will live in safety, but those who behave deceitfully will be caught out.
People think it's strange that you don't join them anymore in this wild and excessive lifestyle, so they curse at you. But they will have to explain what they've done to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Watch out for false prophets who come wearing sheep's clothing, but who on the inside are vicious wolves.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
My friends, if someone is led astray by sin, you who are spiritual should bring them back with a gentle spirit. Watch out that you don't get tempted too.
Run away from anything that fires up the desires of youth. Run after what is right and trustworthy, run after love and peace along with those who are true and pure Christians.
They filled themselves with all that's wrong: evil, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malice, and gossip.
The good news is about his Son, whose human forefather was David,
They're back-stabbers and God-haters. They're arrogant, proud, and boastful. They devise new ways of sinning. They rebel against their parents.
They don't want to understand, they don't keep their promises, they don't show any kindness or compassion.
Even though they realize exactly what God requires, they do things that deserve death. Not only do they do such things themselves, they also support others in doing them.
A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
Don't be in love with the world, and don't long for the things of this world. If you love the world, you won't have the Father's love in you.
For all the things of this world—our sinful desires, wanting everything we see, boasting about what we've accomplished in life— these things don't come from the Father but from the world.