Verse of the Day

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

He must become greater; I must become less.

[John the Baptist said when asked if he was the Christ, the Messiah:] "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete."

[God told Moses to look at the Promised Land, since he was not going to cross this Jordan, then God said:] "Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see."

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

[King Nebuchadnezzar, who had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into the furnace,] said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."

So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

[There is no difference between Jew and non-Jew in regard to righteousness,] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

[After Jesus' baptism by John,] the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Now 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who he has appointed for you — even Jesus.

And we, who with unveiled faces all [contemplate and] reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

[The Lord God said to the serpent,] "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

He appointed twelve — designating them apostles — that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one ..."

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

In those days John the Baptist came ... saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.