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.
Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching;
for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.
Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads,
or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one.
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.
She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions,
since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.
for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.
Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread, but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
Jehu 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? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.
I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed.
Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers.
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?
O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil!
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?
Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;
for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.
And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them.
For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the 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 child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.
Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—
my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.
They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Cease straying, my child, from the words of knowledge, in order that you may hear instruction.
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips,
the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents,
foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
They know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die—yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;
for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.