After you’ve suffered for a little while, the God of all grace will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. He has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ.
Our troubles are small and they last only for a short time, but they’re earning a glory for us that will last forever. That glory outweighs all our troubles.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you openly told others what you believed in front of many witnesses.
Finally, brothers and sisters, be joyful! Work to make everything right with one another. Encourage one another and agree with each other. Live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
God is able to strengthen you through the good news, which is the message I preach about Jesus Christ. There was a mystery that had been kept hidden for a very long time.
So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people, so that they also can be saved through Christ Jesus, with glory that will last forever.
God has saved us and called us to live a holy life. This isn’t because of anything we’ve done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus even before time began.
That’s why Christ is the mediator of a new covenant. Now the people that God has called to himself can receive the eternal gift he promised. They can receive it because Christ has died to pay the price and set them free from the sins they committed under the first covenant.
But even before her twins were born, before they’d done anything good or bad, Rebekah was told, “The older son will serve the younger one.” This shows that God’s purpose was based firmly on his own choice, not on anything the children did.
If anyone speaks, they should do it as someone who’s speaking God’s own words. If anyone serves, they should do it with the strength that God provides. That way God will be praised in all things through Jesus Christ. May he receive the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
I ask all of you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree with one another and not argue. Look and think about things in the same way.
Each of you has received a gift that you can use to serve others. You should use it as something that God has trusted you with. These gifts come in many forms.