Romans 16:4

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.

“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.

I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are Yahweh’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth.”

May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood—

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

I will send my terror before you, and will confuse all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”

The woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, “Behold, your servant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.

Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says Yahweh of Armies.

Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.

But he said to them, “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.

He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.

I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?

and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:

Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.

Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek to Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had decreed, and as they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.

I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, ‘Bow down, that we may walk over you;’ and you have laid your back as the ground, like a street to those who walk over.”

“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you. Everyone return from his evil way now, and amend your ways and your doings.” ’

You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says Yahweh of Armies.

even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.

Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,

They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.

looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.

But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?

saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power and reigned.

I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things.

Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers.

If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won’t forget your law.

Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Yahweh.

hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints,

For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

When they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, “Come near. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” They came near, and put their feet on their necks.

(for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.”

When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me today, to fight against me?”

You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.

and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

Therefore Yahweh says: “Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily; for it is an evil time.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.

Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.

We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.

Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily: anxiety for all the assemblies.

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.

For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews

By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;