We know that all things work
together for good to those who love God.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. § You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.
All things are yours: whether … the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. § All things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Rom. 8:28; Ps. 76:10; Gen. 50:20;
1 Cor. 3:21–23; 2 Cor. 4:15–17; James 1:2–4
The communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. § He will not speak on His own authority. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit … Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. § The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:16–17; 16:13–14;
Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:17, 19; Eph. 4:30; Rom. 8:26
Following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, His disciples fanned out all over the known world, telling people they could now be reconciled with God through faith in Jesus Christ. How were the religious faithful to know if this was true? How could they discern the true Shepherd’s voice?
A fascinating glimpse is given to us when the apostle Paul, who had started heated debates and even riots in practically every synagogue and city where he preached the Gospel, slipped into the little town of Berea. As was his custom, he went straight to the synagogue in order to share the wonderful good news that the Messiah had come. This time when he preached, “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
We will recognize our Shepherd’s voice when we listen with our eyes on the pages of our Bibles.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man who gains understanding.
Whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might … but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord.” § The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. § In [Him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. § Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. § Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. § He who wins souls is wise.
Prov. 3:13; 8:35; Jer. 9:23–24; Prov. 9:10; Phil. 3:7–8;
Col. 2:3; Prov. 8:14; 1 Cor. 1:30; Prov. 11:30
Poor, yet making many rich.
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. § Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. § My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. § God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? § Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9; John 1:16; Phil. 4:19;
2 Cor. 9:8; James 2:5; 1 Cor. 1:26–27; 2 Cor. 4:7
If the apostle John hasn’t already conveyed to us that My Father’s House is spectacular, his description of the streets surely does. But I wonder if there is a subtle message to us contained in his description – a message that my wise mother, with her characteristic humor, pointed out to me when she dryly exclaimed that you can tell what God thinks of gold because He paves the streets of heaven with it! Gold is really just heavenly asphalt! In other words, there are many things down here on earth that we give a top priority to, which in eternity will be inconsequential and insignificant.
It’s sobering to contemplate how much time, effort, sacrifice, compromise, and attention we give to acquiring and increasing our supply of something that is totally insignificant in eternity. What are your priorities? As you live them out, will they have eternal value and significance?
The God of all grace.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. § He is gracious to him, and says, “Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom.” § Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. § Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. § Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. § To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. § As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. § He gives more grace.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.
1 Peter 5:10; Ex. 33:19; Job 33:24; Rom. 3:24–25;
John 1:17; Eph. 2:8; 1 Tim. 1:2; Eph. 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10; James 4:6; 2 Peter 3:18
I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us. § Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. § My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. § Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Ps. 121:1–2; 125:2; 123:1–2; 63:7; 2 Chron. 20:12; Ps. 25:15; 124:8
