When you were baptized, you were buried together with Christ, and you were raised to life with him by believing in the work that God did when he raised Jesus from the dead.
But we’re like clay jars that hold a valuable treasure. We carry the good news around in these earthly bodies of ours to show that its mighty power comes from God and not from us.
Keeping this in mind, we pray for you constantly. We pray that God will make you worthy of his calling and, by his power, make every good thing you want to do come true. We pray that he will make perfect everything you’ve done by faith.
because our good news didn’t just come to you through our words. It came with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with great confidence. You know what we went through for your sake when we were with you.
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. I want them to have their sins forgiven and find a place among God’s people by believing in me.’
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.