Today's prayer: Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer

Psalm 61

1

Psalm 61 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

1

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

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From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3

For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.

4

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

5

For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6

Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations.

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May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

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Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Today's bible teaching: Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.

Psalm 76

1

Psalm 76 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1

In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.

2

His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

3

There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. Selah

4

You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.

5

Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.

6

At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.

7

You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?

8

From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet--

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when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah

10

Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. ^[1]

11

Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.

12

He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Today's bible teaching: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Ephesians 5

1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

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and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

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Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

5

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ^[1]

6

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

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Therefore do not be partners with them.

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For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

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(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

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and find out what pleases the Lord.

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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

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For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

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But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

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for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

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Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

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making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

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Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

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Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

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Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

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always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

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Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

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For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

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Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

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to make her holy, cleansing ^[2] her by the washing with water through the word,

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and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

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In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

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After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--

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for we are members of his body.

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"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." ^[3]

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This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.

33

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Today's bible teaching: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

Colossians 3

1

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

3

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

4

When Christ, who is your ^[1] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

6

Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ^[2]

7

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

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But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

9

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

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and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

11

Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12

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

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Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

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And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

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And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

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Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

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Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

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Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

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Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

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since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

25

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Today's bible teaching: For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness

1.Thessalonians 4 

A Life Pleasing to God

1Finally, then, brothers,* we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3For this is the will of God, your sanctification:* that you abstain from sexual immorality;4that each one of you know how to control his own body* in holiness and honor,5not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;6that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.7For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.9Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,10for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,11and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,12so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

The Coming of the Lord

13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,* that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Today's bible teaching: Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster

Jeremiah 18

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This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

2

"Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message."

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So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

4

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

5

Then the word of the LORD came to me:

6

"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

7

If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,

8

and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

9

And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,

10

and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

11

"Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, `This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.'

12

But they will reply, `It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'"

13

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "Inquire among the nations: Who has ever heard anything like this? A most horrible thing has been done by Virgin Israel.

14

Does the snow of Lebanon ever vanish from its rocky slopes? Do its cool waters from distant sources ever cease to flow? ^[1]

15

Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths. They made them walk in bypaths and on roads not built up.

16

Their land will be laid waste, an object of lasting scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads.

17

Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster."

18

They said, "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let's attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says."

19

Listen to me, O LORD; hear what my accusers are saying!

20

Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember that I stood before you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them.

21

So give their children over to famine; hand them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives be made childless and widows; let their men be put to death, their young men slain by the sword in battle.

22

Let a cry be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.

23

But you know, O LORD, all their plots to kill me. Do not forgive their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger.

Today's bible teaching: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in

Matthew 25

1

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2

Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4

The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5

The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6

"At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

7

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8

The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

9

"`No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

10

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11

"Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!'

12

"But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

13

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

14

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

15

To one he gave five talents ^[1] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16

The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

17

So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.

18

But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19

"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20

The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21

"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22

"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23

"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24

"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25

So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26

"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27

Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28

"`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

29

For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

30

And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

31

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33

He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34

"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37

"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

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When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

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When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40

"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41

"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43

I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44

"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45

"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."