…You must all be quick to listen,
slow to speak,
and slow to get angry.
Human anger does not produce the righteousness
God desires.
But don’t just listen to God’s word.
You must do what it says.
Otherwise,
you are only fooling yourselves.
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue,
you are fooling yourself,
and your religion is worthless.
When they entered the tomb,
they saw a young man clothed in a white robe
sitting on the right side.
The women were shocked,
but the angel said,
“Don’t be alarmed.
You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified.
He isn’t here!
He is risen from the dead!
…Jesus looked up to heaven and said,
“Father, the hour has come.
Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.
For you have given him authority over everyone.
He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.
And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them
so they can be made holy by your truth.”
“I have given them your word.
And the world hates them
because they do not belong to the world,
just as I do not belong to the world.
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world,
but to keep them safe from the evil one.
They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
Make them holy by your truth;
teach them your word,
which is truth.
I am praying not only for these disciples
but also for all who will ever believe in me
through their message.”
Whatever is good and perfect
is a gift coming down to us from God our Father,
who created all the lights in the heavens.
He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.
and we,
out of all creation,
became his prized possession.
If you need wisdom,
ask our generous God,
and he will give it to you.
He will not rebuke you for asking.
But when you ask him,
be sure that your faith is in God alone.
Do not waver,
for a person with divided loyalty
is as unsettled as a wave of the sea
that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
