The Lord used every prophet and every seer [205] to warn Israel and Judah. The Lord said, “Turn away from the evil things you do! Obey my commands and laws. Follow all the Law that I gave to your ancestors. [206] I used my servants the prophets to give this law to you.”
Lord, you made me understand this: {\cf2\super [250]} \par You don’t really want\par sacrifices {\cf2\super [251]} and grain offerings.\par You don’t really want\par burnt offerings and sin offerings.\par
“But even then,\par you didnt listen to me!\par You didn‘t learn anything!\par You refused to listen to anything\par I told you.\par I have known since the beginning\par that you would be against me.\par You have rebelled against me\par from the time you were born.\par
But every person and every animal must be covered with a special cloth \{to show he is sad\}. People must cry loudly to God. Every person must change his life and stop doing bad things.
I tell you these things so you will learn a lesson. I want you to fear and respect me. If you do this, then your home won’t be destroyed. If you do this, then I won’t have to punish you the way I planned.” But those bad people only wanted to do more of the same bad things they had already done!
There was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. Her job was selling purple cloth. She worshiped the true God. Lydia listened to Paul. The Lord opened her heart. She believed the things Paul said.
Come near to God and God will come near to you. You are sinners. So clean sin out of your lives. {\cf2\super [23]} You are trying to follow God and the world at the same time. Make your thinking pure.