The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
“Notice the fig tree,
or any other tree.
When the leaves come out,
you know without being told that summer is near.
In the same way,
when you see all these things taking place,
you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.
I tell you the truth,
this generation will not pass from the scene
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will disappear,
but my words will never disappear.
“And there will be strange signs
in the sun,
moon,
and stars.
And here on earth
the nations will be in turmoil,
perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
People will be terrified at what they see
coming upon the earth,
for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then everyone will see the Son of Man
coming on a cloud with power and great glory.
So when all these things begin to happen,
stand and look up,
for your salvation is near!”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“Then what does this Scripture mean?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’
Everyone who stumbles over that stone
will be broken to pieces,
and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
“I alone am God,
the First and the Last.
It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,
my right hand that spread out the heavens above.
When I call out the stars,
they all appear in order.”
I have cared for you since you were born.
Yes,
I carried you before you were born.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you,
and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.
“I would not have told the people of Israel
to seek me
if I could not be found.
…there is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior.
There is none but me.
Let all the world look to me for salvation!
For I am God;
there is no other.
I have sworn by my own name;
I have spoken the truth,
and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”
For the LORD is God,
and he created the heavens and earth
and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the LORD,”
he says,
“and there is no other.”
It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day
and the moon and stars to light the night,
and who stirs the sea into roaring waves.
His name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
and this is what he says:
“I am as likely to reject my people Israel
as I am to abolish the laws of nature!”
Truly,
O God of Israel,
our Savior,
you work in mysterious ways.
Blessings of trusting His mysteries,
Jan