LOSING A FRIEND

lamentations 3:19-29

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,


the bitterness and the gall.



20 I well remember them,

and my soul is downcast within me.



21 Yet this I call to mind

and therefore I have hope:



22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.



23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.



24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."



25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;



26 it is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.



27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is young.



28 Let him sit alone in silence,

for the LORD has laid it on him.



29 Let him bury his face in the dust—

there may yet be hope.

SAY NO TO SELF HELP

Jeremiah 17


1 "Judah's sin is engraved with an iron tool,

inscribed with a flint point,

on the tablets of their hearts

and on the horns of their altars.



2 Even their children remember

their altars and Asherah poles [a]

beside the spreading trees

and on the high hills.



3 My mountain in the land

and your [b] wealth and all your treasures

I will give away as plunder,

together with your high places,

because of sin throughout your country.



4 Through your own fault you will lose

the inheritance I gave you.

I will enslave you to your enemies

in a land you do not know,

for you have kindled my anger,

and it will burn forever."



5 This is what the LORD says:

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.



6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.



7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.



8 He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit."



9 The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?



10 "I the LORD search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward a man according to his conduct,

according to what his deeds deserve."

WHY WE WRE VALUABLE

Psalm 8


For the director of music. According to gittith [a].

A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise [b]

because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.



3 When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,



4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?



5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]

and crowned him with glory and honor.



6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:



7 all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,



8 the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.



9 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

DONNOT DISRESPECT GOD

1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD : "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy [a] their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. [b]


The Bronze Snake

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, [c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.



8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

EVERY THING HAVE LIMIT

Jeremiah 5

20 "Announce this to the house of Jacob


and proclaim it in Judah:



21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,

who have eyes but do not see,

who have ears but do not hear:



22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD.

"Should you not tremble in my presence?

I made the sand a boundary for the sea,

an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.

The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;

they may roar, but they cannot cross it.



23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;

they have turned aside and gone away.



24 They do not say to themselves,

'Let us fear the LORD our God,

who gives autumn and spring rains in season,

who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'



25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;

your sins have deprived you of good.



26 "Among my people are wicked men

who lie in wait like men who snare birds

and like those who set traps to catch men.



27 Like cages full of birds,

their houses are full of deceit;

they have become rich and powerful



28 and have grown fat and sleek.

Their evil deeds have no limit;

they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it,

they do not defend the rights of the poor.



29 Should I not punish them for this?"

declares the LORD.

"Should I not avenge myself

on such a nation as this?



30 "A horrible and shocking thing

has happened in the land:



31 The prophets prophesy lies,

the priests rule by their own authority,

and my people love it this way.

But what will you do in the end?

How To Walk

A Prayer for the Ephesians


14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

there are two kingdoms

matthew 22:15-22Paying Taxes to Caesar


15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"



21"Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."



22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Who Is This Man?

READ Mark 4:35-41

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” [Mark 4:41]

We don’t know exactly what the disciples of Jesus thought about him in the early stages of his ministry. They had followed him because he was a man of authority and power. It’s likely that they considered him to be the Messiah, the one anointed by God to reestablish God’s kingdom in Israel. But, as Mark 4:35-41 reveals, the disciples really didn’t know whom they were dealing with when it came to Jesus.

The story begins with Jesus and the disciples taking a boat from the west side of the Sea of Galilee to the east side. While they were on the water, a fierce storm began, with powerful winds and threatening waves. Yet Jesus, no doubt exhausted from his recent ministry efforts, was sleeping in the back of the boat. His sleep was interrupted, however, by the yelling of the disciples, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (4:38). Jesus awoke and ordered the wind and waves, “Silence! Be still!” (4:39). As the storm abated, he turned to his disciples and asked, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (4:40). In response, “The disciples were absolutely terrified. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!' " (4:41).

The disciples knew that Jesus could do certain kinds of miracles. They had seen him heal the sick and cast out demons. But they had no idea that he might also have power over natural elements. They were truly amazed by this new realization, and even terrified. What had they gotten themselves into? Could Jesus be even more than the Messiah? And, if so, just who was he?

I have been a Christian for forty-six years. There have been times along the way in my journey of discipleship when I have become comfortable with Jesus. It seems like I have him all figured out. But then he breaks out of the mold, sometimes stunning me, sometimes confusing me, sometimes frustrating me, sometimes overwhelming me with his grace. I come to see Jesus with new eyes, realizing that he is far more than I had previously thought. All of us, I think, need sometimes to ask, along with the disciples, “Who is this man?”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: Have you had experiences of Jesus that remind you of this story from Mark? When? How has your understanding of Jesus grown since you first put your faith in him?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, what a joy and privilege to have walked with you for forty-six years! How blessed I am to know you and call you my Lord!

Yet, even though I do know you, I have so much to learn about who you really are. Help me, Lord, to know you more truly so that I might trust you more completely and follow you more faithfully. Where I have misunderstood you, point out my errors. Where I have failed to comprehend your grandeur, open my eyes to see your glory. May I be continually surprised by you as I come to know who you really are. Amen.

Job 1

Job's Character and Wealth 1There was a man in the (A)land of Uz whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless, upright, (D)fearing God and (E)turning away from evil. 2(F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3(G)His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the men of the east. 4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering (I)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "(J)Perhaps my sons have sinned and (K)cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. 6(L)Now there was a day when the (M)sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and [a]Satan also came among them. 7The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." 8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." 9Then (Q)Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10"(R)Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (S)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (T)possessions have increased in the land. 11"(U)But put forth Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." 12Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. Satan Allowed to Test Job 13Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15and the (W)Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 16While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "(X)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 17While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The (Y)Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 18While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you." 20Then Job arose and (Z)tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21He said, "(AA)Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there The (AB)LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." 22(AC)Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Genesis 1

The Beginning 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. 20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Psalm 5

For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David. 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. 4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell. 5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong. 6 You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors. 7 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me. 9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Falling in love

Falling in loveBy Ben CerulloExcerpt from Ben Cerullo's new book – Proof of Love (chapter 5) The Christian life is not lived by studying what Jesus did and trying, in your own strength, to duplicate it. It's not a script to be read and acted out. It's real life – a complete life – a meaningful life – a worthy life. It's His life lived out through you. He becomes your life. He becomes your true love.There's no formula to having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but there are patterns and examples in the Bible that we can follow: Don't feel overwhelmed as you learn how to approach God. Just take it one step at a time – one day at a time. Focus on your relationship with Him today. The past is the past, and you can't change the mistakes you've made. But you can press into God, and He'll press into you. Don't look to the bigness of your needs or circumstances, but keep your eyes focused on the bigness of your God to lead, guide, and direct you.As you begin your relationship, it's imperative that you enter into God's presence through worship and prayer. Just like with earthly relationships, you must spend time together. It's the only way to know each other. The closer you draw to Jesus and learn His heart, the more beauty you'll see...and the deeper your love will grow. So if you hunger for an intimate, vital relationship with your Heavenly Father, begin to worship Him.What is worship? It's expressed in countless ways in many different church traditions and cultures. But God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-led worship always involves expressions of gratitude, awe, and devotion. When we worship with sincerity, we're expressing to God His enormous worth and value in our lives.Like the angels in heaven, all true worshipers say, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:11, NKJV). True worship not only recognizes the worthiness of God, it rejoices in it. Our worship should involve both our attitude and our action.

PSALM

Psalm 4 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David. 1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [a] ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [b] ? Selah 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety

John 14:16-21 NIV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you......

PSALM 3

1 O LORD, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah [a] 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift [b] up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

1 Corinthians 6

¹Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

²Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

³Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

⁴If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

⁵I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

⁶But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

⁷Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

⁸Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

⁹Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

¹⁰Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

¹²All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

¹³Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

¹⁴And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

¹⁵Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

¹⁶What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

¹⁷But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

¹⁸Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Psalm 2

¹ Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

² The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

³ "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶ "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, "You are my Son today I have become your Father.

⁸ Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

1 Corinthians 7

¹Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

²Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

³Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

⁴The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

⁵Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

⁶But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

⁷For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

⁸I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

⁹But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

¹¹But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

¹²But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

¹³And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

¹⁵But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

¹⁶For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

¹⁷But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

¹⁸Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

²⁰Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

²¹Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

²²For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

²³Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

²⁴Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

²⁵Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

²⁶I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

²⁸But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

³⁰And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

³¹And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

³²But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

³³But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

³⁴There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

³⁵And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

³⁶But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

³⁷Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

³⁸So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

³⁹The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

⁴⁰But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.