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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 hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path 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 make friends with a person given to anger, Or go with a hot-tempered person,
Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.
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.
One who walks with wise people will be wise, But a companion of fools will suffer harm.
But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person.
A person 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 no one to comfort her Among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.
One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends.
Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother or sister who leads a disorderly life and not one in accordance with the tradition which you received from us.
Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning,
knowing that such a person has deviated from what is right and is sinning, being self-condemned.
One who works his land will have plenty of food, But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord, and by doing so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord?
I do not sit with deceitful people, Nor will I go with pretenders.
I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person so as not to associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
And yet do not regard that person as an enemy, but admonish that one as a brother or sister.
The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree 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.
Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness?
¶If only You would put the wicked to death, God; Leave me, you men of bloodshed.
You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far away.
For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord? And do I not loathe 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 did not come from Him who calls you.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 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.
The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us, Let’s lie in wait for blood, Let’s ambush the innocent without cause;
Let’s swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, like those who go down to the pit;
We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with plunder;
Throw in your lot with us; We will all have one money bag,”
My son, do not walk on the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
One who walks in integrity walks securely, But one who perverts his ways will be found out.
Listen to advice and accept discipline, So that you may be wise the rest of your days.
In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you;
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a treacherous person in time of trouble.
Stop listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips,
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, and unmerciful;
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also approve of 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.