and [this], not as we had expected,but they firstgavethemselvesto the Lordand to us by the willof God.
Then the Spiritcameupon Amasai,who was the chiefof the thirty,[and he said], "[We] are yours, O David,And with you, O sonof Jesse!Peace,peaceto you, And peaceto him who helpsyou; Indeed,your Godhelpsyou!" Then Davidreceivedthem and madethem captainsof the band.
The handof Godwas alsoon Judahto givethem oneheartto dowhatthe kingand the princescommandedby the wordof the LORD.
"Nowdo not stiffenyour necklike your fathers,but yieldto the LORDand enterHis sanctuarywhichHe has consecratedforever,and servethe LORDyour God,that His burningangermay turnawayfrom you.
"But thisis the covenantwhichI will makewith the houseof Israelafterthosedays,"declaresthe LORD,"I will putMy lawwithinthem and on their heartI will writeit; and I will be their God,and they shall be My people.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
and do not go on presentingthe membersof your body to sin[as] instrumentsof unrighteousness;but presentyourselvesto Godas those alivefrom the dead,and your members[as] instrumentsof righteousnessto God.
Paul,called[as] an apostleof JesusChristby the willof God,and Sosthenesour brother,
For we do not preachourselvesbut ChristJesusas Lord,and ourselvesas your bond-servantsfor Jesus'sake.
Now,brethren,we [wish to] make knownto you the graceof Godwhich has been givenin the churchesof Macedonia,
"So I have alsodedicatedhim to the LORD;as longas he liveshe is dedicatedto the LORD."And he worshipedthe LORDthere.
