But the Holy Spirit prays for us
with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts
knows what the Spirit is saying,
for the Spirit pleads for us believers
in harmony with God’s own will.
(Kingbird)
…all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day
when God will reveal who his children really are.
Against its will,
all creation was subjected to God’s curse.
But with eager hope,
the creation looks forward to the day
when it will join God’s children
in glorious freedom from death and decay.
For we know that all creation has been groaning
as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time.
…since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,
we have peace with God
because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his presence.
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.
Blessings of proclaiming the good news
But people are counted as righteous,
not because of their work,
but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
…no one can ever be made right with God
by doing what the law commands.
The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
But now God has shown us a way
to be made right with him
without keeping the requirements of the law,
as was promised in the writings of Moses
and the prophets long ago.
We are made right with God
by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
And this is true for everyone who believes,
no matter who we are.
Yes, they knew God,
but they wouldn’t worship him as God
or even give him thanks.
And they began to think up foolish ideas
of what God was like.
As a result,
their minds became dark and confused.
Claiming to be wise,
they instead became utter fools.
For ever since the world was created,
people have seen the earth and sky.
Through everything God made,
they can clearly see his invisible qualities—
his eternal power and divine nature.
So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20
Lord, through all the generations
you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.
…my life is worth nothing to me
unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me
by the Lord Jesus—
the work of telling others the Good News
about the wonderful grace of God.
