The Wisdom of God
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity[a] in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[b] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.”
patience (noun): the power or capacity to endure without complaint something difficult or disagreeable; forebearance, longsuffering.
The verse above is a prayer from Paul to the church at Thessolonica as they continued to deal with persecution and false teaching. The word “lead” in the prayer literally means to “make straight” their Continue reading
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.