OD is love and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him -- The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us -- This precious value, then, is for you who believe.--We love because He first loved us.-- the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

      You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.--This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you -- Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins -- Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
 

F God is for us, who is against us?--The LORD is for me. I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Thou hast given a banner to those who fear Thee.

     The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life. Whom shall I dread? -- Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear. Though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.

      Behold, God is with us at our head.-- The LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

      These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. -- Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.-- Devise a plan but it will be thwarted. State a proposal, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

LESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
      In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ -- The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.

      Let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

HERE the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest. The prisoners are at ease together. They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.
      Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!... they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.

      Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep... Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
      We are in this tent, we groan, being burdened.-- Also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope...But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

RUST in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
       I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go. I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him -- Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it' whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
      If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us, so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?

OU shall have treasure in heaven... follow Me.-- I am... your exceeding great reward.

      Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.--They shall reign forever and ever.

      You will receive the unfading crown of glory.-- The crown of life.--the crown of righteousness.-- An imperishable crown.

      Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me.-- Thus we shall always be with the Lord.

      I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

DO not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. -- Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

      For we walk by faith, not by sight.--Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal -- An inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

s an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord --Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

      Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips --Aaron, therefore, kept silent.-- It is the LORD; let Him do what seems good to Him.

      Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken --Surely our griefs He Himself bore and our sorrows He carried

      Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.

O Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou who art enthroned in the heavens!. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, ss the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He shall be gracious to us. -- Hear my cry, O God. Give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Thy tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Thy wings -- For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm.

      Christ...suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

E were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within -- Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them. -- Strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
     You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted -- God is my strong fortress...He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze -- our adequacy is from God. .

      The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them -- Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

      Time will fail me if I tell...of those who by faith conquered kingdoms... from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

HE LORD your God . . . goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go -- Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions. The LORD alone guided him, and there was no foreign god with him --The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand --Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But the LORD delivers him out of them all --For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish --We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose --With us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles

      The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy

E was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed...has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him...He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people...the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief.

      Jesus our Lord...was delivered up because of our transgressions --Christ ...also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God --He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

      He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

      Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us

      Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
      Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight -- casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
 

HO is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

      For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.--  I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.

      How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! -- The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

BLE to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.

      Able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
      Able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

      Able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
      Able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
      Able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
      Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
      Do you believe that I am able to do this?... Yes, Lord... Be it done to you according to your faith.

EWARE lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today lest, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them...then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the LORD your God... for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth.

      Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep -- For by their own sword they did not possess the land and their own arm did not save them but Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy presence, for Thou didst favor them. -- Many are saying, Who will show us any good? Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O LORD!

 

NEW and living way, which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh -- not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior -- By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

      Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Thy name give glory because of Thy lovingkindness, because of Thy truth.-- To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.--

Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation -- I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count... and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.

OD will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.

      Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save, neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear -- The Deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

     How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God --Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death.

      My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus -- He Himself has said, I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU  so that we confidently say, THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME? - The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.
 

HERE two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst. -- If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
      If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

      May my beloved come into his garden And eat its choice fruits -- I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey.-- The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
      By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples -- Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.--having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

HE blessing of the LORD, that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it -- Thou Who dost bless the righteous man, O LORD. Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield.

      He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper. The LORD is your shade on your right hand. -- The LORD will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. -- I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I guard it night and day.

      Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me and I guarded them.

      The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

MAN of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.--We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.--It was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things, and through Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through sufferings.--Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

      I was not disobedient, nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard. I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
      Behold how He loved him.--He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

O man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.--He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.-- The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.

      Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; Save me in Thy lovingkindness. Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon Thee -- LORD, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong. Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed --Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Thy countenance.
      The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
     Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.

ITHOUT faith it is impossible to please him.-- Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.--The LORD takes pleasure in His people.

      This finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly -- If, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.-- The imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
      He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.-- I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.
      I urge you... brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

ince then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same.
      Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

      We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.--In Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace -- through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. --He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

he steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD Jehovah, we have an everlasting Rock.

     Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you --He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.--Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

      Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.--do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?--Be not unbelieving, but believing. -- Lo, I am with you always.

onduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ -- Abstain from every form of evil.-- If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler -- be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world -- Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

      Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.--Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

F his own w