Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy the good food and sweet drinks. And give some food and drinks to those people that didn’t prepare any food. Today is a special day to the Lord. Don’t be sad! Why? Because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.”
But if God decides not to help them,\par then no person can judge God guilty.\par If God hides himself from people,\par then no person can find him.\par God is the ruler over people and nations.\par
I heard what the Lord God said.\par He said there would be peace\par for his people and loyal followers.\par So they must not go back to their foolish\par way of living.\par
If you had obeyed me,\par then peace would have come to you\par like a full flowing river.\par Good things would have come to you\par again and again,\par like the waves of the sea.\par
In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. In the kingdom of God, the important things are these: living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. {\cf2\super [143]}
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. {\cf2\super [150]}
If a person’s thinking is controlled by his sinful self, then there is spiritual death. But if a person’s thinking is controlled by the Spirit, then there is life and peace.
And we destroy every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. And we capture (catch) every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.
Now, brothers and sisters, I say good-bye. Try to be perfect. Do the things I have asked you to do. Agree in your minds with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Christ’s love is greater than any person can ever know. But I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.
And do the things that you learned and received from me. Do the things I told you and the things you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.