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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 adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world sets himself as an enemy of God.
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting,
for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
¶Do not befriend a man of anger; And do not come along with a man of great wrath,
Lest you learn his ways And take on a snare against your soul.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
But now I am writing to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
She weeps bitterly in the night, And her tears are on her cheeks; She has none to comfort her Among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates close companions.
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who walks in an unruly manner and not according to the tradition which they received from us.
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,
knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
For the devious one is an abomination to Yahweh; But His secret council is with the upright.
He who cultivates his ground will be satisfied with food, But he who pursues empty things will be satisfied with poverty.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him to his face and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh and so bring wrath on yourself from Yahweh?
I do not sit with worthless men, And I will not go with pretenders.
I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take special note of that person to not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked makes them wander about.
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.
And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
¶Oh that You would slay the wicked, O God! O men of bloodshed, depart from me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate You, O Yahweh? And do I not revile those who rise up against You?
I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion is not from Him who calls you.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
And the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own stomach, and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
My son, if sinners entice you, Do not be willing.
If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, as those who go down to the pit;
We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;
Cast in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,”
My son, do not walk in the way with them. Withhold your feet from their pathway,
He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Listen to counsel and receive discipline, That you may be wise in the end of your days.
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, maligning you,
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Like an aching tooth and a slipping foot Is trust in a treacherous man in a day of distress.
Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
slanderers, haters of God, violent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
and although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.