Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.
2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
9 Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.
Col. 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master-in heaven.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains.
4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord's work.
8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose-to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that's happening here.
10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.
11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.
13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas.
15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
17 And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you."
18 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING-PAUL. Remember my chains. May God's grace be with you.
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Psalms 34:1 A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.
2 I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.
3 Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt His name together.
4 I prayed to the LORD, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; He saved me from all my troubles.
7 For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear Him.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!
9 Fear the LORD, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need.
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD.
12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help.
16 But the LORD turns His face against those who do evil; He will erase their memory from the earth.
17 The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the LORD will redeem those who serve Him. No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.
Ps. 35:1 A psalm of David. O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.
2 Put on Your armor, and take up Your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.
3 Lift up Your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear You say, "I will give you victory!"
4 Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
5 Blow them away like chaff in the wind-a wind sent by the angel of the LORD.
6 Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
8 So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.
9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because He rescues me.
10 With every bone in my body I will praise Him: "LORD, who can compare with You? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?"
11 Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.
13 Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
14 I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.
15 But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don't even know; they slander me constantly.
16 They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.
17 How long, O Lord, will You look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
18 Then I will thank You in front of the great assembly. I will praise You before all the people.
19 Don't let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don't let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.
20 They don't talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.
21 They shout, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!"
22 O LORD, You know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
23 Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
24 Declare me not guilty, O LORD my God, for You give justice. Don't let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
25 Don't let them say, "Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!"
26 May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
27 But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, "Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing His servant with peace!"
28 Then I will proclaim Your justice, and I will praise You all day long.
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