But we know that there is only one God,
the Father,
who created everything,
and we live for him.
And there is only one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
through whom God made everything
and through who we have been given life.
…while knowledge makes us feel important,
it is love that strengthens the church.
Anyone who claims to know all the answers
doesn’t really know very much.
But the person who loves God
is the one whom God recognizes.
…What do you have that God hasn’t given you?
And if everything you have is from God,
why boast as though it were not a gift?
It’s not important who does the planting,
or who does the watering.
What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
The one who plants and the one who waters
work together with the same purpose.
And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—
his plan that was previously hidden,
even though he made it for our ultimate glory
before the world began.
For since the world began,
no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him!
….“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:7; Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9
Now you have every spiritual gift you need
as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you strong to the end
so that you will be free from all blame
on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
God will do this,
for he is faithful to do what he says,
and he has invited you into partnership with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
…He made you holy by the means of Christ Jesus,
just as he did for all people everywhere
who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
their Lord and ours.
I pray that God,
the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace
because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
…the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement
as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person
by changing the way you think.
