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.
Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy.
Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.
So then, if some come to you who do not bring this teaching, do not welcome them in your homes; do not even say, “Peace be with you.”
For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do.
Don't make friends with people who have hot, violent tempers.
You might learn their habits and not be able to change.
Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father.
Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
What I meant was that you should not associate with a person who calls himself a believer but is immoral or greedy or worships idols or is a slanderer or a drunkard or a thief. Don't even sit down to eat with such a person.
All night long she cries; tears run down her cheeks. Of all her former friends, not one is left to comfort her. Her allies have betrayed her and are all against her now.
If you want people to like you, forgive them when they wrong you. Remembering wrongs can break up a friendship.
Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them.
Friends mean well, even when they hurt you. But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder—watch out!
Give at least two warnings to those who cause divisions, and then have nothing more to do with them.
You know that such people are corrupt, and their sins prove that they are wrong.
because the Lord hates people who do evil, but he takes righteous people into his confidence.
Rich people are always finding new friends, but the poor cannot keep the few they have.
A prophet, Jehu son of Hanani, went to meet the king and said to him, “Do you think it is right to help those who are wicked and to take the side of those who hate the Lord? What you have done has brought the Lord's anger on you.
I do not keep company with worthless people; I have nothing to do with hypocrites.
I hate the company of the evil and avoid the wicked.
It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed.
But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.
The righteous person is a guide to his friend, but the path of the wicked leads them astray.
Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.
Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night.
They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.
Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light. (
Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together?
O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked! How I wish violent people would leave me alone!
You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.
They say wicked things about you; they speak evil things against your name.
O Lord, how I hate those who hate you! How I despise those who rebel against you!
I hate them with a total hatred; I regard them as my enemies.
You were doing so well! Who made you stop obeying the truth? How did he persuade you?
It was not done by God, who calls you.
“It takes only a little yeast to make the whole batch of dough rise,” as they say.
Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father.
Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.
The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.
I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them!
For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.
My child, when sinners tempt you, don't give in.
Suppose they say, “Come on; let's find someone to kill! Let's attack some innocent people for the fun of it!
They may be alive and well when we find them, but they'll be dead when we're through with them!
We'll find all kinds of riches and fill our houses with loot!
Come and join us, and we'll all share what we steal.”
My child, don't go with people like that. Stay away from them.
And now the heathen are surprised when you do not join them in the same wild and reckless living, and so they insult you.
“Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves.
Conceited people do not like to be corrected; they never ask for advice from those who are wiser.
Depending on an unreliable person in a crisis is like trying to chew with a loose tooth or walk with a crippled foot.
My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too.
Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help.
They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip
It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David;
and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents;
they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others.
They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.
Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father.
Everything that belongs to the world—what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of—none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.