When the servant of the man of God
got up early the next morning and went outside,
there were troops,
horses,
and chariots everywhere.
“Oh, sir, what will we do now?”
the young man cried to Elisha.
“Don’t be afraid!”
Elisha told him.
“For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
Then Elisha prayed,
“O LORD,
open his eyes and let him see!”
The LORD opened the young man’s eyes,
and when he looked up,
he saw that the hillside around Elisha
was filled horses and chariots of fire.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching
and follows it is wise,
like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Though the rain comes in torrents
and the floodwaters rise
and the winds beat against that house,
it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
But anyone who hears my teaching
and doesn’t obey it is foolish,
like a person who builds a house on sand.
When the rains and floods come
and the winds beat against that house,
it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Beware of false prophets
who come disguised as harmless sheep
but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit,
that is,
by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes,
or figs from thistles?
Yes,
just as you can identify a tree by its fruit,
so you can identify people by their actions.
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broad,
and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
But the gateway to life is very narrow
and the road is difficult,
and only a few find it.”
“Keep on asking,
and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking,
and you will find.
Keep on knocking,
and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks,
receives.
Everyone who seeks,
finds.
And to everyone who knocks,
the door will be opened.“
“Do not judge others,
and you will not be judged.
For you will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging
is the standard by which you will be judged.”
So don’t worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.
“So don’t worry about these things,
saying,
‘What will we eat?
What will we drink?
What will we wear?
These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers,
but your heavenly Father always knows all your needs.
Seek the Kingdom of God
above all else,
and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.”
“You have heard the law that says,
‘Love your neighbor’
and hate your enemy.
But I say,
love your enemies!
Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way,
you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.
For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good,
and he sends rain on the just and unjust alike.”
After his baptism,
as Jesus came up out of the water,
the heavens were opened
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and settling on him.
And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my dearly loved Son,
who brings me great joy.”
