and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.