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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.
I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.Sometimes when I bring clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in them.Then I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living creature. The waters will never again become a flood to destroy all life.
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, “I am giving this land to your family who comes after you. It reaches from the River of Egypt to the great Euphrates River.
I will make my covenant with you last forever. It will be between me and you and your family after you for all time to come. I will be your God. And I will be the God of all your family after you.You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever and so will all your family after you. And I will be their God.”
Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.”
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They answered, “We will do everything the Lord has told us to do. We will obey him.”Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, “This is the blood that puts the covenant into effect. The Lord has made this covenant with you in keeping with all these words.”
So I want you to realize that the Lord your God is God. He is the faithful God. He keeps his covenant for all time to come. He keeps it with those who love him and obey his commandments. He shows them his love.
You are not going in to take over their land because you have done what is right or honest. It’s because those nations are so evil. That’s why the Lord your God will drive them out to make room for you. He will do what he said he would do. He made a promise to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Be careful to obey the terms of this covenant. Then you will have success in everything you do.
Today I’m giving you a choice. You can have life and success. Or you can have death and harm.I’m commanding you today to love the Lord your God. I’m commanding you to live exactly as he wants you to live. You must obey his commands, rules and laws. Then you will live. There will be many of you. The Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to take as your own.
The mountains might shake. The hills might be removed. But my faithful love for you will never be shaken. And my covenant that promises peace to you will never be removed,” says the Lord. He shows you his loving concern.
The Lord says, “I love those who do what is right. I hate it when people steal and do other sinful things. So I will be faithful to my people. And I will bless them. I will make a covenant with them that will last forever.
“The days are coming,” announces the Lord. “I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. I will also make it with the people of Judah.It will not be like the covenant I made with their people of long ago. That was when I took them by the hand. I led them out of Egypt. But they broke my covenant. They did it even though I was like a husband to them,” announces the Lord.“This is the covenant I will make with Israel after that time,” announces the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds. I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people.They will not need to teach their neighbor anymore. And they will not need to teach one another anymore. They will not need to say, ‘Know the Lord.’ That’s because everyone will know me. From the least important of them to the most important, all of them will know me,” announces the Lord. “I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.”
“I will make a covenant with them. It promises to give them peace. I will get rid of the wild animals in the land. Then my sheep can live safely in the desert. They can sleep in the forests.
I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn hearts from you. I will give you hearts that obey me.I will put my Spirit in you. I will make you want to obey my rules. I want you to be careful to keep my laws.
“My covenant promised Levi life and peace. So I gave them to him. I required him to respect me. And he had great respect for my name.
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. It is poured out for you.
But Jesus has been given a greater work to do for God. He is the go-between for the new covenant. This covenant is better than the old one. The new covenant is based on better promises.Suppose nothing had been wrong with that first covenant. Then no one would have looked for another covenant.
That’s why Christ is the go-between of a new covenant. Now those God calls to himself will receive the eternal gift he promised. They will receive it now that Christ has died to save them. He died to set them free from the sins they committed under the first covenant.
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws on their minds.” (Jeremiah 31:33)Then he adds, “I will not remember their sins anymore. I will not remember the evil things they have done.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins.” (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34)
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s family. Go to the land I will show you.At that time there was not enough food in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while.As he was about to enter Egypt, he spoke to his wife Sarai. He said, “I know what a beautiful woman you are.The people of Egypt will see you and say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me. But they will let you live.Tell them you are my sister. Then I’ll be treated well and my life will be spared because of you.”Abram arrived in Egypt. The Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.When Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they told Pharaoh how beautiful she was. So she was taken into his palace.Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her. So Abram gained more sheep and cattle and male and female donkeys. He also gained more male and female servants and some camels.But the Lord sent terrible sicknesses on Pharaoh and everyone in his palace. The Lord did it because of Abram’s wife Sarai.So Pharaoh sent for Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?Why did you say she was your sister? That’s why I took her to be my wife. Now then, here’s your wife. Take her and go!”“I will make you into a great nation. And I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing to others.Then Pharaoh gave orders to his men about Abram. They sent him on his way. So he left with his wife and everything he had.I will bless those who bless you. I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you.”
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, “I am the Mighty God. Walk faithfully with me. Live in a way that pleases me.Here is my covenant that you and your family after you must keep. You and every male among you must be circumcised.That will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.It must be done for all time to come. Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised. That includes those who are born into your own family or outside it. It also includes those bought with money from a stranger.So any male born into your family or bought with your money must be circumcised. My covenant will last forever. Your body will have the mark of my covenant on it.Any male who has not been circumcised will be separated from his people. He has broken my covenant.”God also said to Abraham, “Do not continue to call your wife by the name Sarai. Her name will be Sarah.I will give her my blessing. You can be sure that I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of nations will come from her.”Abraham fell with his face to the ground. He laughed and said to himself, “Can a 100-year-old man have a son? Can Sarah have a child at the age of 90?”Abraham said to God, “I really wish Ishmael could receive your blessing!”Then God said, “Yes, I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. That covenant will last forever. It will be for Isaac and his family after him.I will now act on my covenant between me and you. I will greatly increase the number of your children after you.”
He said, “I am giving you my word that I will bless you. I will bless you because of what you have done,” announces the Lord. “You have not held back your son, your only son.So I will certainly bless you. I will make the children born into your family as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They will take over the cities of their enemies.All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children. All these things will happen because you have obeyed me.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down the words I have spoken. I have made a covenant with you and with Israel in keeping with those words.”Moses was there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights. He didn’t eat any food or drink any water. The Lord wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant law. Those words are the Ten Commandments.
The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Mount Horeb.“Do not be a false witness against your neighbor.“Do not want to have your neighbor’s wife. Do not desire anything your neighbor owns. Do not desire to have your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey.”These are the commandments the Lord announced in a loud voice to your whole community. He gave them to you there on the mountain. He spoke out of the fire, cloud and deep darkness. He didn’t add anything else. Then he wrote the commandments on two stone tablets. And he gave them to me.The mountain was blazing with fire. You heard the voice coming out of the darkness. So your elders and all the leaders of your tribes came to me.You said, “The Lord our God has shown us his glory and majesty. We have heard his voice coming out of the fire. Today we have seen that a person can still stay alive even if God speaks with them.But why should we die? This great fire will burn us up. We’ll die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God again.We have heard the voice of the living God. We’ve heard him speaking out of the fire. Has any other human being ever heard him speak like that and stayed alive?Go near and listen to everything the Lord our God says. Then tell us what he tells you. We will listen and obey.”The Lord heard you when you spoke to me. He said to me, “I have heard what these people said to you. Everything they said was good.But I wish they would always have respect for me in their hearts. I wish they would always obey all my commands. Then things would go well with them and their children forever.He didn’t make it only with our people of long ago. He also made it with us. In fact, he made it with all of us who are alive here today.
He says, “Gather this holy people around me. They made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice.”
Lord, you are my God. I will honor you. I will praise your name. You have been perfectly faithful. You have done wonderful things. You had planned them long ago.
But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us.
I will make a covenant with them. It promises to give them peace. The covenant will last forever. I will make them my people. And I will cause there to be many of them. I will put my temple among them forever.
“Do not think I have come to get rid of what is written in the Law or in the Prophets. I have not come to do this. Instead, I have come to fulfill what is written.What I’m about to tell you is true. Heaven and earth will disappear before the smallest letter disappears from the Law. Not even the smallest mark of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is completed.
Abraham and his family received a promise. God promised that Abraham would receive the world. It would not come to him because he obeyed the law. It would come because of his faith, which made him right with God.
Brothers and sisters, let me give you an example from everyday life. No one can get rid of an official agreement between people. No one can add to it. It can’t be changed after it has been made. It is the same with God’s covenant agreement.The promises were given to Abraham. They were also given to his seed. Scripture does not say, “and to seeds.” That means many people. It says, “and to your seed.” (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7) That means one person. And that one person is Christ.
You who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed. So you will receive what God has promised.
But the Lord’s love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children’s children will know that he always does what is right.
The Lord says, “Suppose some eunuchs keep my Sabbath days. They choose to do what pleases me. And they are faithful in keeping my covenant.Then I will set up a monument in the area of my temple. Their names will be written on it. That will be better for them than having sons and daughters. The names of the eunuchs will be remembered forever. They will never be forgotten.
“Always remember this day. You and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast to honor the Lord. You must do this for all time to come. It is a law that will last forever.
Then the Lord said, “I am making a covenant with you. I will do wonderful things in front of all your people. I will do amazing things that have never been done before in any nation in the whole world. The people you live among will see the things that I, the Lord, will do for you. And they will see how wonderful those things really are.
Be careful. Don’t forget the covenant the Lord your God made with you. Don’t make for yourselves a statue of any god at all. He has told you not to. So don’t do it.The Lord your God is like a fire that burns everything up. He wants you to worship only him.
Pay attention to the laws of the Lord your God. Be careful to obey them. Then he will keep his covenant of love with you. That’s what he promised to your people of long ago.The Lord will love you and bless you. He’ll cause there to be many of you. He’ll give you many children. He’ll bless the crops of your land. He’ll give you plenty of grain, olive oil and fresh wine. He’ll bless your herds with many calves. He’ll give your flocks many lambs. He’ll do all these things for you in the land of Canaan. It’s the land he promised your people of long ago that he would give you.
All the Lord’s ways are loving and faithful toward those who obey what his covenant commands.
The Lord says to his servant, “When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers. When it is time to save you, I will help you. I will keep you safe. You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel. Then their land will be made like new again. Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.
“This is the covenant I will make with Israel after that time,” announces the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds. I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people.
But I will remember my covenant with you. I made it with you when you were young. Now I will make a new covenant with you. It will last forever.
So here is what I ask. Did God turn his back on his people? Not at all! I myself belong to Israel. I am one of Abraham’s children. I am from the tribe of Benjamin.Let their eyes grow dark so they can’t see. Let their backs be bent forever.” (Psalm 69:22,23)Again, here is what I ask. The Israelites didn’t trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, the Gentiles can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.Israel’s sin brought riches to the world. Their loss brings riches to the Gentiles. So then what greater riches will come when all Israel turns to God!I am talking to you who are not Jews. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I take pride in the work I do for God and others.I hope somehow to stir up my own people to want what you have. Perhaps I can save some of them.When they were not accepted, it became possible for the whole world to be brought back to God. So what will happen when they are accepted? It will be like life from the dead.The first handful of dough that is offered is holy. This makes all of the dough holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches.Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.You will say, “Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.”God didn’t turn his back on his people. After all, he chose them. Don’t you know what Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel.
This is the written story of the family line of Jesus the Messiah. He is the son of David. He is also the son of Abraham.Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.And Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his brothers. At that time, the Jewish people were forced to go away to Babylon.After this, the family line continued. Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud. Abihud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Elihud.Elihud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob.Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary. And Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah.So there were 14 generations from Abraham to David. There were 14 from David until the Jewish people were forced to go away to Babylon. And there were 14 from that time to the Messiah.
He has been kind to our people of long ago. He has remembered his holy covenant.He made a promise to our father Abraham.
What the prophets said was meant for you. The covenant God made with your people long ago is yours also. He said to Abraham, ‘All nations on earth will be blessed through your children.’ (Genesis 22:18; 26:4)
They are the people of Israel. They have been adopted as God’s children. God’s glory belongs to them. So do the covenants. They received the law. They were taught to worship in the temple. They were given the promises.The founders of our nation belong to them. The Messiah comes from their family line. He is God over all. May he always be praised! Amen.
God has made a great many promises. They are all “Yes” because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say “Amen.” We want God to receive glory.
All who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. It is written, “May everyone who doesn’t continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law be under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 27:26)We know that no one who depends on the law is made right with God. This is because “the one who is right with God will live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)The law is not based on faith. In fact, it is just the opposite. It teaches that “the person who does these things will live by them.” (Leviticus 18:5)Christ set us free from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. It is written, “Everyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.” (Deuteronomy 21:23)Christ Jesus set us free so that the blessing given to Abraham would come to the Gentiles through Christ. He did it so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. The promised Spirit comes by believing in Christ.
Here is what the Holy Spirit was showing us. He was telling us that God had not yet clearly shown the way into the Most Holy Room. It would not be clearly shown as long as the first holy tent was still being used.That’s an example for the present time. It shows us that the gifts and sacrifices people offered were not enough. They were not able to remove the worshiper’s feelings of guilt.
Today the Lord has announced that you are his people. He has said that you are his special treasure. He promised that you would be. He has told you to keep all his commands.
He has made his word known to the people of Jacob. He has made his laws and rules known to Israel.The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the scattered people of Israel.He hasn’t done that for any other nation. They don’t know his laws. Praise the Lord.
The Lord stood beside the stairway. He said, “I am the Lord. I am the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your children after you the land you are lying on.They will be like the dust of the earth that can’t be counted. They will spread out to the west and to the east. They will spread out to the north and to the south. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you and your children after you.I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. And I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then God said, “Yes, I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. That covenant will last forever. It will be for Isaac and his family after him.
I’m calling for the heavens and the earth to be witnesses against you this very day. I’m offering you the choice of life or death. You can choose either blessings or curses. But I want you to choose life. Then you and your children will live.You and your children will return to the Lord your God. You will obey him with all your heart and with all your soul. That will be according to everything I’m commanding you today.And you will love the Lord your God. You will obey him. You will remain true to him. The Lord is your very life. He will give you many years in the land. He promised to give that land to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Instead, he chose to live in the tribe of Judah. He chose Mount Zion, which he loved.There he built his holy place as secure as the heavens. He built it to last forever, like the earth.
“Here is the covenant I will make with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit is on you and will not leave you. I have put my words in your mouth. They will never leave your mouth. And they will never leave the mouths of your children or their children after them. That will be true for all time to come,” says the Lord.
I am the Lord. I will be their God. And my servant from David’s family line will be the prince among them. I have spoken. I am the Lord.
Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
“Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.He has acted with great power and has saved us. He did it for those who are from the family line of his servant David.
The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”
There is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is Lord of all. He richly blesses everyone who calls on him.Scripture says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Joel 2:32)
But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Here is my covenant I am making with you. The waters of a flood will never again destroy all life. A flood will never again destroy the earth.”
“This is my covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations.You will not be called Abram anymore. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations.
“Obey all these directions. It’s a law for you and your children after you for all time to come.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth and the ocean. He made everything in them. He remains faithful forever.
So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great. He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle. That’s because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice. He was counted among those who had committed crimes. He took the sins of many people on himself. And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.”
The Lord said, “Could you ever break my covenant with the day? Could you ever break my covenant with the night? Could you ever stop day and night from coming at their appointed times?Only then could my covenant with my servant David be broken. Only then could my covenant with the Levites who serve me as priests be broken. Only then would David no longer have someone from his family line to rule on his throne.
I will give my people hearts that are completely committed to me. I will give them a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove their stubborn hearts from them. And I will give them hearts that obey me.
The promise is based on God’s grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham’s children will certainly receive the promise. And it is not only for those who are ruled by the law. Those who have the same faith that Abraham had are also included. He is the father of us all.
Brothers and sisters, let me give you an example from everyday life. No one can get rid of an official agreement between people. No one can add to it. It can’t be changed after it has been made. It is the same with God’s covenant agreement.
But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law.He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have.
He will keep the covenant he made with Abraham. He will keep the promise he made to Isaac.
He always loves those who keep his covenant. He always does what is right for those who remember to obey his commands.
“Do not think I have come to get rid of what is written in the Law or in the Prophets. I have not come to do this. Instead, I have come to fulfill what is written.
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws on their minds.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down the words I have spoken. I have made a covenant with you and with Israel in keeping with those words.”
He loved your people of long ago. He chose their children after them. So he brought you out of Egypt. He used his great strength to do it.He drove out nations to make room for you. They were greater and stronger than you are. He will bring you into their land. He wants to give it to you as your very own. The whole land is as good as yours right now.
“What if his sons turn away from my laws and do not follow them?What if they disobey my orders and fail to keep my commands?Then I will punish them for their sins. I will strike them with a rod. I will whip them for their evil acts.
Lord, remember your great mercy and love. You have shown them to your people for a long time.Don’t remember the sins I committed when I was young. Don’t remember how often I refused to obey you. Remember me because you love me. Lord, you are good.
In this way all Israel will be saved. It is written, “The God who saves will come from Mount Zion. He will remove sin from Jacob’s family.Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins.” (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34)
Give thanks to the God who killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.He did it by reaching out his mighty hand and powerful arm. His faithful love continues forever.
“Here is my servant. I have chosen him. He is the one I love. I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit on him. He will announce to the nations that everything will be made right.
You were set free from an empty way of life. This way of life was handed down to you by your own people of long ago. You know that you were not bought with things that can pass away, like silver or gold.Instead, you were bought with the priceless blood of Christ. He is a perfect lamb. He doesn’t have any flaws at all.
He set his people free. He made a covenant with them that will last forever. His name is holy and wonderful.
The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer. I made his life an offering to pay for sin. But he will see all his children after him. In fact, he will continue to live. My plan will be brought about through him.After he has suffered, he will see the light of life. And he will be satisfied. My godly servant will make many people godly because of what he will accomplish. He will be punished for their sins.
Go and learn what this means, ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ (Hosea 6:6) I have not come to get those who think they are right with God to follow me. I have come to get sinners to follow me.”
People from one end of the earth to the other will remember and turn to the Lord. The people of all the nations will bow down in front of him.
We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ.Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives.And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin. Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.Before the law was given, sin was in the world. This is certainly true. But people are not judged for sin when there is no law.Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God’s command. But Adam also became a pattern of the Messiah. The Messiah was the one who was going to come.God’s gift can’t be compared with Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But it was even more sure that God’s grace would also come through one man. That man is Jesus Christ. God’s gift of grace was more than enough for the whole world.The result of God’s gift is different from the result of Adam’s sin. That one sin brought God’s judgment. But after many sins, God’s gift made people right with him.One man sinned, and death ruled over all people because of his sin. What will happen is even more sure than this. Those who receive the rich supply of God’s grace will rule with Christ. They will rule in his kingdom. They have received God’s gift and have been made right with him. This will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done.So one man’s sin brought guilt to all people. In the same way, one right act made people right with God. That one right act gave life to all people.Many people were made sinners because one man did not obey. But one man did obey. That is why many people will be made right with God.Through faith in Jesus we have received God’s grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God’s glory.
But Lord, you are a God who is tender and kind. You are gracious. You are slow to get angry. You are faithful and full of love.
Don’t let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.Don’t bring charges against anyone for no reason. They have not harmed you.Don’t be jealous of a person who hurts others. Don’t choose any of their ways.The Lord really hates sinful people. But he makes honest people his closest friends.The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.He makes fun of proud people who make fun of others. But he gives grace to those who are humble and treated badly.Wise people receive honor. But foolish people get only shame.Then you will find favor and a good name in the eyes of God and people.
The Lord says to his servant, “When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers. When it is time to save you, I will help you. I will keep you safe. You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel. Then their land will be made like new again. Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.I want you to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out.’ Tell those who are in their dark cells, ‘You are free!’ “On their way home they will eat beside the roads. They will find plenty to eat on every bare hill.
Then you will live in the land I gave your people of long ago. You will be my people. And I will be your God.
No! In all these things we are more than winners! We owe it all to Christ, who has loved us.
The Lord is good. His faithful love continues forever. It will last for all time to come.
Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up.
I will pour out water on the thirsty land. I will make streams flow on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children. I will pour out my blessing on their children after them.
His anger lasts for only a moment. But his favor lasts for a person’s whole life. Weeping can stay for the night. But joy comes in the morning.
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks.
I want to preach it because I’m not ashamed of the good news. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes. It is meant first for the Jews. It is meant also for the Gentiles.The good news shows God’s power to make people right with himself. God’s power to be made right with him is given to the person who has faith. It happens by faith from beginning to end. It is written, “The one who is right with God will live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
You will be faithful for all time to come. You made the earth, and it continues to exist.
The God who is highly honored lives forever. His name is holy. He says, “I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from their sins. I live with anyone who is not proud. I give new life to them. I give it to anyone who turns away from their sins.
But put God’s kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all those things will also be given to you.
Our Lord Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep. The God who gives peace brought him back from the dead. He did it because of the blood of the eternal covenant. Now may Godsupply you with everything good. Then you can do what he wants. May he do in us what is pleasing to him. We can do it only with the help of Jesus Christ. Give him glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I take delight in obeying your commands because I love them.I reach out for your commands that I love. I do this so that I may think deeply about your orders.
I will bow down facing your holy temple. I will praise your name, because you are always loving and faithful. You have honored your holy word even more than your own fame.
So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I always do what is right.
I will not break my covenant. I will not go back on my word.Once and for all, I have made a promise. It is based on my holiness. And I will not lie to David.
I do not mean that God’s word has failed. Not everyone in the family line of Israel really belongs to Israel.
“People of Israel, you are my witnesses,” announces the Lord. “I have chosen you to be my servant. I wanted you to know me and believe in me. I wanted you to understand that I am the one and only God. Before me, there was no other god at all. And there will not be any god after me.
Because they were his people, he remembered his covenant. Because of his great love, he felt sorry for them.
But Abraham kept believing in God’s promise. He became strong in his faith. He gave glory to God.
Lord, you will show that I was right to trust you. Lord, your faithful love continues forever. You have done so much for us, so don’t stop now.
I will praise the Lord. Lord my God, you are very great. You are dressed in glory and majesty.The Lord makes springs pour water into the valleys. It flows between the mountains.The springs give water to all the wild animals. The wild donkeys satisfy their thirst.The birds in the sky build nests by the waters. They sing among the branches.The Lord waters the mountains from his palace high in the clouds. The earth is filled with the things he has made.He makes grass grow for the cattle and plants for people to take care of. That’s how they get food from the earth.There is wine to make people glad. There is olive oil to make their skin glow. And there is bread to make them strong.The cedar trees of Lebanon belong to the Lord. He planted them and gave them plenty of water.There the birds make their nests. The stork has its home in the juniper trees.The high mountains belong to the wild goats. The cliffs are a safe place for the rock badgers.The Lord made the moon to mark off the seasons. The sun knows when to go down.The Lord wraps himself in light as if it were a robe. He spreads out the heavens like a tent.You, Lord, bring darkness, and it becomes night. Then all the animals of the forest prowl around.The lions roar while they hunt. All their food comes from God.The sun rises, and they slip away. They return to their dens and lie down.Then people get up and go to work. They keep working until evening.Lord, you have made so many things! How wise you were when you made all of them! The earth is full of your creatures.Look at the ocean, so big and wide! It is filled with more creatures than people can count. It is filled with living things, from the largest to the smallest.Ships sail back and forth on it. Leviathan, the sea monster you made, plays in it.All creatures depend on you to give them their food when they need it.When you give it to them, they eat it. When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.When you turn your face away from them, they are terrified. When you take away their breath, they die and turn back into dust.He builds his palace high in the heavens. He makes the clouds serve as his chariot. He rides on the wings of the wind.When you send your Spirit, you create them. You give new life to the ground.May the glory of the Lord continue forever. May the Lord be happy with what he has made.When he looks at the earth, it trembles. When he touches the mountains, they pour out smoke.I will sing to the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.May these thoughts of mine please him. I find my joy in the Lord.But may sinners be gone from the earth. May evil people disappear. I will praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.He makes the winds serve as his messengers. He makes flashes of lightning serve him.He placed the earth on its foundations. It can never be moved.
But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithfuland gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.