The path of the just is like the shining sun, that
shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. § Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. § We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. § When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. § For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. § Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Prov. 4:18; Phil. 3:12; Hos. 6:3; Matt. 13:43; 2 Cor. 3:18;
1 Cor. 13:10; 13:12; 1 John 3:2–3
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. § “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” § “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! § I will put My Spirit within you … Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this.”
This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Rom. 10:13; John 6:37; Luke 23:42–43; Matt. 20:32–34;
Luke 11:13; Ezek. 36:27, 37; 1 John 5:14–15
Is there someone who comes to your mind as being totally incompatible with you? A parent? Or sibling? Or spouse? Or roommate? Or child? Or supervisor? Or employer?
Have you felt incompatibility was reason enough to sever the relationship? Or at least to avoid it at all costs? Yet there are times when we have no option but to live with or work with or be thrown together with someone who totally contradicts our own personalities and natures. At such times the relationship can become so strained that we can even perceive the incompatible person as an enemy. But there is another way . . .
Jesus focused His disciples on His way of dealing with incompatibility. The key is to make our relationship with Jesus the priority of our lives. Jesus reminded His disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name.
If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. § If you … , being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! § Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. § You do not have because you do not ask.
When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
They rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.
John 14:26; 4:10; Luke 11:13; John 16:23–24;
James 4:2; John 16:13–14; Isa. 63:10
What do you think about the Christ?
Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. § He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
To you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” § Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
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. § Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.
Matt. 22:42; Ps. 24:9–10; Rev. 19:16; 1 Peter 2:7;
1 Cor. 1:23–24; Phil. 3:8; John 21:17
Do you want to experience real, lasting, God-pleasing change so that you are filled with satisfaction, peace, joy, love, purpose-abundant life? Then don’t look to
a bottle,
a pill,
a therapist,
a once-a-week trip to church,
Look to God’s Word for yourself. Read your Bible every day in order to understand, apply, and obey it.
As we long to grow not only in our faith but in our Christian character so that others can readily see Christ in us, we need to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to His Word. This transformation is a continual process that is brought about by daily saturating ourselves in the Scriptures then living it out on the anvil of our experience, until even our friends exclaim, “I see Jesus in you!”
Whom the Lord loves He corrects.
Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. § I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. § “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. § As a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. § Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. § Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Prov. 3:12; Deut. 32:39; Jer. 29:11; Isa. 55:8; Hos. 2:14;
Deut. 8:5; Heb. 12:11; 1 Peter 5:6; Ps. 119:75
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.
She did not know that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold … Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time and My new wine in its season, and will take back My wool and My linen.
All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance … is from Your hand, and is all Your own. § Of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
The living God … gives us richly all things to enjoy. § Every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Ps. 24:1; Hos. 2:8–9; 1 Chron. 29:14–16;
Rom. 11:36; 1 Tim. 6:17, 4:4–5; Phil. 4:19
