Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new: namely your having put off according to the former conversation the old man which corrupts itself according to the deceitful lusts; and being renewed in the spirit of your mind; and your having put on the new man, which according to God is created in truthful righteousness and holiness...and having put on the new, renewed into full knowledge according to the image of him that has created him; Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God. And everything, whatever ye may do in word or in deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any praise, think on these things. (Psa 51:10; 2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:10, 16-17; Php 4:8)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses. Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth; (1Tim 6:12; 1John 2:15-17; Rom 12:2; Col 3:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For I say, through the grace which has been given to me, to every one that is among you, not to have high thoughts above what he should think; but to think so as to be wise, as God has dealt to each a measure of faith. For, as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office; thus we, being many, are one body in Christ, and each one members one of the other. If then there be any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and compassions, fulfil my joy, that ye may think the same thing, having the same love, joined in soul, thinking one thing; let nothing be in the spirit of strife or vain glory, but, in lowliness of mind, each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves; regarding not each his own qualities , but each those of others also. Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even as also ye do. (Rom 12:3-5; Php 2:1-4; 1Thes 5:11)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us. For the anxious looking out of the creature expects the revelation of the sons of God: for the creature has been made subject to vanity, not of its will, but by reason of him who has subjected the same , in hope that the creature itself also shall be set free from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous. But law came in, in order that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace has overabounded, in order that, even as sin has reigned in the power of death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. There is then now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death. (Rom 8:18-21, 5:19-21, 8:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

As his divine power has given to us all things which relate to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us by glory and virtue, and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ; until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ; in order that we may be no longer babes, tossed and carried about by every wind of that teaching which is in the sleight of men, in unprincipled cunning with a view to systematized error; but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ: but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2Pet 1:3; Eph 4:11-15; 2Pet 3:18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

If the world hate you, know that it has hated me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on account of this the world hates you. And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil: because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual power of wickedness in the heavenlies. For this reason take to you the panoply of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand. Stand therefore, having girt about your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod your feet with the preparation of the glad tidings of peace: besides all these, having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed darts of the wicked one. Have also the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word; praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; (John 15:18-19; 2Tim 3:12; Eph 6:1-18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who against us? As his divine power has given to us all things which relate to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us by glory and virtue, through which he has given to us the greatest and precious promises, that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have also access by faith into this favour in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. For the rest, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of his strength. (Isa 41:10; Rom 8:31; 2Pet 1:3-4; Rom 5:1-2; Eph 6:10)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, good does not dwell: for to will is there with me, but to do right I find not. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore will he instruct sinners in the way: The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are loving-kindness and truth for such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O LORD, thou wilt indeed pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in thee do I confide; make me to know the way wherein I should walk, for unto thee do I lift up my soul. I have strength for all things in him that gives me power. (Psa 139:23-24; Rom 7:18; Psa 25:8-11, 143:8; Php 4:13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; according as he has chosen us in him before the world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love; having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has taken us into favour in the Beloved: But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, that God has chosen you from the beginning to salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereto he has called you by our glad tidings, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. (Eph 1:3-6; 2Thes 2:13-14; Php 4:4)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For God is one, and the mediator of God and men one, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony to be rendered in its own times; And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved. For God has not sent his Son into the world that he may judge the world, but that the world may be saved through him. He that believes on him is not judged: but he that believes not has been already judged, because he has not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the witness, that God has given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life: he that has not the Son of God has not life. For other foundation can no man lay besides that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1Tim 2:5-6; Acts 4:12; John 3:17-18; 1John 5:11-12; 1Cor 3:11)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Why art thou cast down, my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about thee , thou shalt take rest in safety. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning. And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us: “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abide in the vine, thus neither can ye unless ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.” (Psa 43:5; Job 11:18; James 1:17; 2Cor 12:9, 4:7; John 15:4-5)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God's gift: not on the principle of works, that no one might boast. For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them. But for this very reason also, using therewith all diligence, in your faith have also virtue, in virtue knowledge, in knowledge temperance, in temperance endurance, in endurance godliness, in godliness brotherly love, in brotherly love love: for these things existing and abounding in you make you to be neither idle nor unfruitful as regards the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... (Col 2:6-7; Eph 2:8-10; 2Pet 1:5-8)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. As his divine power has given to us all things which relate to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us by glory and virtue, through which he has given to us the greatest and precious promises, that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared, teaching us that, having denied impiety and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, and justly, and piously in the present course of things, awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works. (2Pet 1:2-4; Titus 2:11-14)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Be in subjection therefore to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to the king as supreme, or to rulers as sent by him, for vengeance on evildoers, and praise to them that do well. Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above him . For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God. So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who thus resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil one . Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise what is good, and thou shalt have praise from it; I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made for all men; for kings and all that are in dignity, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and gravity; for this is good and acceptable before our Saviour God... (1Pet 2:13-14; Rom 13:1-3; 1Tim 2:1-3)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach glad tidings to the poor; he has sent me to preach to captives deliverance, and to the blind sight, to send forth the crushed delivered, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free. Now the Lord is the Spirit, but where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. There is then now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death. For ye have been called to liberty, brethren; only do not turn liberty into an opportunity to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Because so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of senseless men; as free, and not as having liberty as a cloak of malice, but as God's bondmen. (Luk 4:18; John 8:32, 36; 2Cor 3:17; Rom 8:1-2; Gal 5:13; 1Pet 2:15-16)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

What then shall we say? Should we continue in sin that grace may abound? Far be the thought. We who have died to sin, how shall we still live in it? Are you ignorant that we, as many as have been baptised unto Christ Jesus, have been baptised unto his death? We have been buried therefore with him by baptism unto death, in order that, even as Christ has been raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth; for ye have died, and your life is hid with the Christ in God. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are amiable, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if any praise, think on these things. (Rom 6:1-4; Col 3:1-3; Php 4:8)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the due time; having cast all your care upon him, for he cares about you. Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus. (Psa 46:10; Eze 38:23; 1Pet 5:7; Php 4:6-7)

       

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“I leave peace with you; I give my peace to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it fear.” Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have also access by faith into this favour in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. For if, being enemies, we have been reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much rather, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in the power of his life. If therefore ye have been raised with the Christ, seek the things which are above, where the Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth; Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus. (John 14:27; Rom 5:1-2, 10; Col 3:1-2; Php 4:6-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

However, the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knew the ones being His; also, Let everyone naming the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness. “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by the ones that are Mine. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it was not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that if He is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone having this hope on Him purifies himself even as that One is pure. Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that that One was revealed that He might take away our sins, and sin is not in Him. But we all with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord Spirit. (2Tim 2:19; John 10:14, 27; 1John 3:2-5; 2Cor 3:18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Then I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling in which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, giving thanks to the Father, who has made us fit for a share of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins; looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God...mind the things above, not the things on the earth. For our citizenship is in Heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ... (Eph 4:1-2; Col 1:12-14; Heb 12:2; Col 3:2; Php 3:20)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

But he is in one mind , and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do. For he will perform what is appointed for me; and many such things are with him. Because whom he has foreknown, he has also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brethren. But whom he has predestinated, these also he has called; and whom he has called, these also he has justified; but whom he has justified, these also he has glorified. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning. According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures.(Job 23:13-14; Rom 8:29-30; James 1:17-18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend. He hath made everything beautiful in its time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth. According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption; having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself for the administration of the fulness of times; to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth; in him, in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being marked out beforehand according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his own will... (Job 37:5; Ecc 3:11; James 3:18; 1Cor 1:30; Eph 1:9-11)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Come, let us sing aloud to the LORD, let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation; Sing forth the glory of his name, make his praise glorious; By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, the fruit of the lips confessing his name. Thou art worthy, O our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy will they were, and they have been created. And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that has been slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in the heaven and upon the earth and under the earth, and those that are upon the sea, and all things in them, heard I saying, To him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, blessing, and honour, and glory, and might, to the ages of ages. (Psa 95:1, 66:2; Heb 13:15; Rev 4:11, 5:11-13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

When the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with him in glory. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God. And if children, heirs also: heirs of God, and Christ's joint heirs; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. But the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. And I saw thrones; and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them; and the souls of those beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus, and on account of the word of God; and those who had not done homage to the beast nor to his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and hand; and they lived and reigned with the Christ a thousand years: the rest of the dead did not live till the thousand years had been completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy he who has part in the first resurrection: over these the second death has no power; but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Col 3:4; Rom 8:16-17; Dan 7:27; Rev 20:4-6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came out from God and was going to God, rises from supper and lays aside his garments, and having taken a linen towel he girded himself: then he pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded. When therefore he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, having sat down again, he said to them, Do ye know what I have done to you? Ye call me the Teacher and the Lord, and ye say well, for I am so . If I therefore, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet; ...Brethren, if even a man be taken in some fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfil the law of the Christ...let nothing be in the spirit of strife or vain glory, but, in lowliness of mind, each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves; regarding not each his own qualities , but each those of others also. (John 13:3-5, 12-14; Gal 6:1-2; Php 2:3-4)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For we were once ourselves also without intelligence, disobedient, wandering in error, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But when the kindness and love to man of our Saviour God appeared, not on the principle of works which have been done in righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that, having been justified by his grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new: and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation: For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them. (Titus 3:4-7; 2Cor 5:17-18; Eph 2:10)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought: 

In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be...but according as it is written, Things which eye has not seen, and ear not heard, and which have not come into man's heart, which God has prepared for them that love him, for our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, who shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory, according to the working of the power which he has even to subdue all things to himself...for the Lord himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we shall be always with the Lord. (John 14:2-3; 1Cor 2:9; Php 3:20-21; 1Thes 4:16-17)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father (1Pet 1:13; 2Tim 2:15; Rom 15:4-6; Col 3:16-17)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (John 15:16; Acts 1:8; Isa 55:10-11; Heb 4:12)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Only conduct yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Christ, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or absent, I may hear of what concerns you, that ye stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, labouring together in the same conflict with the faith of the glad tidings; See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what is the will of the Lord. But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all. See that no one render to any evil for evil, but pursue always what is good towards one another and towards all; rejoice always; pray unceasingly; in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you... (Php 1:27; Eph 5:15-17; 1Thes 5:14-18)