Month: February 2020

Ephesians

Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ

1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

2 with all humilityand gentleness, with patience,acceptingone another in love,

3 diligently keeping the unityof the Spiritwith the peacethat binds us.

4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hopeat your calling —

5 one Lord,one faith,one baptism,

6 one Godand Fatherof all, who is above all and through all and in all.

7 Now grace was given to each one of usaccording to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.

8 For it says:

When He ascendedon high,

He took prisoners into captivity;

He gave gifts to people.

9 But what does “He ascended” mean except that Hedescended to the lower parts of the earth?

10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,that He might fillall things.

11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,growing into a mature man with a staturemeasured by Christ’s fullness.

14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head— Christ.

16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit togetherby every supporting ligament, promotes the growthof the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Living the New Life

17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.

18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.

19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impuritywith a desire for more and more.

20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah,

21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truthis in Jesus.

22 You took offyour former way of life,the old selfthat is corrupted by deceitful desires;

23 you are being renewedin the spiritof your minds;

24 you put onthe new self, the one createdaccording to God’s likenessin righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Since you put awaylying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor,because we are members of one another.

26 Be angry and do not sin.Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity.

28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to sharewith anyone in need.

29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,so that it gives grace to those who hear.

30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit.You were sealed by Himfor the day of redemption.

31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kindand compassionateto one another, forgivingone another, just as God also forgave youin Christ.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EPH/4-3432c6c7d36e4bde95b8556f64259bbd.mp3?version_id=72—

Ephesians

Ephesians 5

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.

2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

3 But sexual immoralityand any impurityor greedshould not even be heard ofamong you, as is proper for saints.

4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoralor impureor greedyperson, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdomof the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrathis coming on the disobedient because of these things.

7 Therefore, do not become their partners.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are lightin the Lord. Walk as children of light—

9 for the fruit of the lightresults in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—

10 discerningwhat is pleasingto the Lord.

11 Don’t participate in the fruitlessworks of darkness, but instead expose them.

12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,

14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper,and rise up from the dead,

and the Messiah will shine on you.

Consistency in the Christian Life

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise —

16 making the most of the time,because the days are evil.

17 So don’t be foolish, but understandwhat the Lord’s willis.

18 And don’t get drunkwith wine,which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:

19 speaking to one another

in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,

singing and making music

from your heart to the Lord,

20 giving thanks always for everything

to God the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 submitting to one another

in the fear of Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives,submitto your own husbandsas to the Lord,

23 for the husband is the head of the wifeas Christ is the headof the church. He is the Savior of the body.

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives,just as Christ lovedthe church and gave Himselffor her

26 to make her holy, cleansingher with the washing of water by the word.

27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.

28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,

30 since we are members of His body.

31 For this reason a man will leave

his father and mother

and be joined to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh.

32 This mysteryis profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church.

33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EPH/5-ac909256da028d9b37a835d9a15e68b4.mp3?version_id=72—

Ephesians

Children and Parents

1 Children, obeyyour parents as you would the Lord,because this is right.

2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandmentwith a promise,

3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.

4 Fathers, don’t stir up angerin your children, but bring them up in the trainingand instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your humanmasterswith fear and trembling,in the sincerityof your heart, as to Christ.

6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s willfrom your heart.

7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,

8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threateningthem, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritismwith Him.

Christian Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.

11 Put onthe full armorof God so that you can stand against the tacticsof the Devil.

12 For our battle is not against fleshand blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evilin the heavens.

13 This is why you must take up the full armorof God, so that you may be able to resistin the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

14 Stand,therefore,

with truthlike a belt around your waist,

righteousnesslike armor on your chest,

15 and your feet sandaled with readiness

for the gospel of peace.

16 In every situation take the shieldof faith,

and with it you will be able to extinguish

all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmetof salvation,

and the swordof the Spirit,

which is God’s word.

18 Prayat all times in the Spiritwith every prayer and request, and stay alertin this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldnessthe mystery of the gospel.

20 For this I am an ambassadorin chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

21 Tychicus,our dearly loved brother and faithful servantin the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.

22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourageyour hearts.

23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/EPH/6-2c5122687018f393fd23b92e0352d3cc.mp3?version_id=72—

Philippians

Greeting

1 Pauland Timothy,slaves of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,including the overseersand deacons.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,

4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first dayuntil now.

6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good workin youwill carry it on to completionuntil the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is rightfor me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonmentand in the defenseand establishment of the gospel.

8 For God is my witness,how deeply I miss all of youwith the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And I pray this: that your lovewill keep on growingin knowledge and every kind of discernment,

10 so that you can approve the things that are superiorand can be pureand blamelessinthe day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruitof righteousnessthat comes through Jesus Christ to the gloryand praise of God.

Advance of the Gospel

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,

13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard,and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ.

14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the messagefearlessly.

15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife,but others out of good will.

16 These do so out of love,knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;

17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry,not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.

18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motivesor true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice

19 because I know this will lead to my deliverancethrough your prayers and help from the Spiritof Jesus Christ.

20 My eager expectation and hopeis that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by lifeor by death.

Living Is Christ

21 For me, living is Christand dying is gain.

22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitfulworkfor me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.

23 I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ— which is far better—

24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.

25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

26 so that, because of me, your confidence may growin Christ Jesuswhen I come to you again.

27 Just one thing: Live your lifein a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firmin onespirit, with one mind,working side by side for the faiththat comes from the gospel,

28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.This is a sign of destruction for them,but of your deliverance— and this is from God.

29 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believein Him, but also to suffer for Him,

30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PHP/1-b25b58228554ff5c04996adc3adc3dd6.mp3?version_id=72—

Philippians

Philippians 2

Christian Humility

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love,if any fellowship with the Spirit,if any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,having the same love,sharing the same feelings, focusing on onegoal.

3 Do nothing out of rivalryor conceit,but in humilityconsider others as more importantthan yourselves.

4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests,but also for the interests of others.

Christ’s Humility and Exaltation

5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

as something to be used for His own advantage.

7 Instead He emptied Himself

by assuming the form of a slave,

taking on the likeness of men.

And when He had come as a man

in His external form,

8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death —

even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow—

of those who are in heavenand on earth

and under the earth—

11 and every tongueshould confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the gloryof God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 So then, my dear friends,just as you have always obeyed,not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumblingand arguing,

15 so that you may be blamelessand pure,children of God who are faultlessin a crookedand pervertedgeneration,among whom you shine like stars in the world.

16 Hold firmly tothe messageof life. Then I can boastin the day of Christthat I didn’t run or labor for nothing.

17 But even if I am poured outas a drink offeringon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesusto send Timothyto you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.

20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

21 all seek their own interests,not those of Jesus Christ.

22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

24 I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.

25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus— my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need—

26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick.

27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another.

28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.

29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor,

30 because he came close to death for the workof Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PHP/2-8786469fa7855227f5cabe4463721194.mp3?version_id=72—

Philippians

Philippians 3

Knowing Christ

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoicein the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.

2 Watch out for “dogs,”watch out for evilworkers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.

3 For we are the circumcision,the ones who serve by the Spiritof God, boast in Christ Jesus,and do not put confidence in the flesh —

4 although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5 circumcised the eighth day;of the nation of Israel,of the tribe of Benjamin,a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law,a Pharisee;

6 regarding zeal,persecutingthe church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law,blameless.

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing valueof knowing ChristJesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law,but one that is through faith in Christ— the righteousness from God based on faith.

10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,being conformed to His death,

11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Reaching Forward to God’s Goal

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take holdof it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brothers, I do notconsider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behindand reaching forward to what is ahead,

14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenlycall in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will revealthis also to you.

16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the crossof Christ.

19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their gloryis in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,

20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His gloriousbody,by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PHP/3-aa3ad4cc9c907641aaf27181c17a771a.mp3?version_id=72—

Philippians

Philippians 4

Practical Counsel

1 So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for — my joy and crown.In this manner stand firmin the Lord, dear friends.

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner,to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpassesevery thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally brothers, whatever is true,whatever is honorable,whatever is just,whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellenceand if there is any praise — dwell on these things.

9 Do what you have learned and receivedand heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Appreciation of Support

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once againyou renewed your care for me.You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

13 I am able to do all things through Himwho strengthens me.

14 Still, you did well by sharing with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippiansknow that in the early days of the gospel,when I left Macedonia,no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone.

16 For even in Thessalonicayou sent gifts for my needseveral times.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profitthat is increasing to your account.

18 But I have received everything in full,and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphrodituswhat you provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasingto God.

19 And my Godwill supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20 Now to our God and Fatherbe glory forever and ever.Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Those brothers who are with me greet you.

22 All the saints greet you, but especially those from Caesar’shousehold.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PHP/4-2072adb749529c55b6da5631efca42a0.mp3?version_id=72—

Colossians

Colossians 1

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,and Timothyourbrother:

2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints

5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth,the gospel

6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruitand growing all over the world,just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God’s gracein the truth.

7 You learned this from Epaphras,our dearly loved fellow slave. He is a faithful servant of the Messiahon yourbehalf,

8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are askingthat you may be filled with the knowledgeof His willin all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good workand growing in the knowledge of God.

11 May you be strengthenedwith all power,according to His gloriousmight, for all endurance and patience, with joy

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled youto share in the saints’inheritance in the light.

13 He has rescuedus from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdomof the SonHe loves.

14 We have redemption,the forgiveness of sins, in Him.

The Centrality of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation.

16 For everything was created by Him,

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities —

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things,

and by Him all thingshold together.

18 He is also the head of the body, the church;

He is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that He might come to have

first place in everything.

19 For God was pleased to have

all His fullnessdwell in Him,

20 and through Him to reconcile

everything to Himself

by making peace

through the bloodof His cross—

whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions.

22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical bodythrough His death,to present you holy, faultless,and blameless before Him—

23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faithand are not shifted away from the hopeof the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creationunder heaven,and I, Paul,have become a servant of it.

Paul’s Ministry

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferingsfor you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body,that is, the church.

25 I have become its servant, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known,

26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints.

27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christin you, the hopeof glory.

28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

29 I labor for this, strivingwith His strength that works powerfully in me.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/COL/1-9bf9d9e3832fe57e079f94de33daf6e3.mp3?version_id=72—

Colossians

Colossians 2

1 For I want you to know how great a struggleI have for you, for those in Laodicea,and for all who have not seen me in person.

2 I want their hearts to be encouragedand joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery— Christ.

3 All the treasures of wisdomand knowledgeare hidden in Him.

Christ versus the Colossian Heresy

4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.

5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit,rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you have receivedChrist Jesus the Lord,walk in Him,

7 rooted and built up in Himand established in the faith, just as you were taught,overflowing with gratitude.

8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition,based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.

9 For the entire fullnessof God’s naturedwells bodilyin Christ,

10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the headover every ruler and authority.

11 You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh,in the circumcision of the Messiah.

12 Having been buried with Himin baptism, you were also raised with Himthrough faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.

14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judgeyou in regard to food and drinkor in the matter of a festival or a new moonor a Sabbath day.

17 These are a shadowof what was to come;the substance isthe Messiah.

18 Let no one disqualify you,insisting on ascetic practicesand the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflatedwithout cause by his unspiritualmind.

19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body,nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God.

20 If you died with the Messiahto the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations:

21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?

22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men.

23 Although these have a reputation of wisdomby promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/COL/2-b4b2fa74f0f916b29047efc4f1c93d9e.mp3?version_id=72—

Colossians

Colossians 3

The Life of the New Man

1 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.

2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.

3 For you have died,and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God.

4 When the Messiah, who is yourlife, is revealed,then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature:sexual immorality, impurity,lust,evil desire, and greed,which is idolatry.

6 Because of these, God’s wrathcomes on the disobedient,

7 and you once walked in these things when you were livingin them.

8 But now you must also put awayall the following: anger,wrath,malice,slander,and filthy language from your mouth.

9 Do not lieto one another, since you have put offthe old selfwith its practices

10 and have put onthe new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of yourCreator.

11 In Christthere is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

The Christian Life

12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved,put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,humility,gentleness,and patience,

13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.

14 Above all, put on love — the perfect bond of unity.

15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also calledin one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.

16 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the nameof the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christ in Your Home

18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands,love your wivesand don’t be bittertoward them.

20 Children,obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,do not exasperateyour children, so they won’t become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your humanmasters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.

23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,as something done for the Lord and not for men,

24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

25 For the wrongdoerwill be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/COL/3-2b6281947603d5d149bab2d452e4483f.mp3?version_id=72—