My brothers and sisters, make every effort to show that God has called you to be saved. If you do everything I’ve just said, you’ll never trip and fall.
Since we’re surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses, let’s throw off everything that weighs us down and any sin that gets in our way. Let’s keep on running the race on the course in front of us.
And Abraham is also the father of those who are circumcised, but who aren’t just circumcised—they also follow in the steps of our father Abraham, who had faith before he was circumcised.
“Everyone who’s supposed to be captured will be captured, and everyone who’s supposed to be killed by a sword will be killed by a sword.” So God’s people must be patient and faithful.
But the seed that fell on good soil stands for those who have good and honest hearts. Those people hear the message, keep it in their hearts, remain faithful, and produce a good crop.
Whenever we pray to our God and Father, we remember the work that your faith produces, the service that’s the result of your love, and the strength to continue that comes from your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.