Warning Against Unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-11) God's Word & The Message Translation

HEBREWS 3:7-11 GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION
7   As the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.
8   Don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled and tested me in the desert.
9   That is where your ancestors tested me,
10  although they had seen what I had done for 40 years.  That is why I was angry with those people. So I said, ‘Their hearts continue to stray, and they have not learned my ways.’
11  So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest.”

HEBREWS 3:7-11 THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION
6-11  Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house! That’s why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen;  don’t turn a deaf ear as in “the bitter uprising,” that time of wilderness testing!  Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience.  And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!  I said, “They’ll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road.”  Exasperated, I vowed, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never be able to sit down and rest.”

Being Enslaved by Sin Again (2 Peter 2:20-22 & Proverbs 26:11-12) GOD'S WORD & THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION

2 PETER 2:20-22 & PROVERBS 26:11-12 GOD'S WORD
20  People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before. 
21  It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live. 
22  These proverbs have come true for them: “A dog goes back to its vomit,” and “A sow that has been washed goes back to roll around in the mud.”

PROVERBS 26:11-12
11  As a dog goes back to its vomit, so a fool repeats his stupidity.
12  Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.

2 PETER 2:20-22 & PROVERBS 26:11-12 THE MESSAGE
20-22  If they’ve escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they’re worse than if they had never left. Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of the proverbs, “A dog goes back to its own vomit” and “A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud.”

PROVERBS 26:11-12

11  As a dog eats its own vomit, so fools recycle silliness.

12  See that man who thinks he’s so smart?  You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

God Put Everything under Jesus' Control (Hebrews 2:5-9) God's Word and The Message Translation

HEBREWS 2:5-9 GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION
5  He didn’t put the world that will come (about which we are talking) under the angels’ control. 
6  Instead, someone has declared this somewhere in Scripture:  “What is a mortal that you should remember him, or the Son of Man that you take care of him?  
7  You made him a little lower than the angels.  You crowned him with glory and honor. 
8   You put everything under his control.”  When God put everything under his Son’s control, nothing was left out.  However, at the present time we still don’t see everything under his Son’s control. 
9  Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, but we see him crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. Through God’s kindness he died on behalf of everyone.

HEBREWS 2:5-9 THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION

5-9  God didn’t put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we’re dealing with here. It says in Scripture,  What is man and woman that you bother with them; why take a second look their way?  You made them not quite as high as angels, bright with Eden’s dawn light; Then you put them in charge of your entire handcrafted world.  When God put them in charge of everything, nothing was excluded. But we don’t see it yet, don’t see everything under human jurisdiction. What we do see is Jesus, made “not quite as high as angels,” and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory “bright with Eden’s dawn light.” In that death, by God’s grace, he fully experienced death in every person’s place.

Everything Is Under Jesus’ Control (Hebrews 2:1-4) The Message and God's Word Translation

^{THE MESSAGE (HEBREWS 2:1-4)}
1-4  It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.

GOD'S WORD (HEBREWS 2:1-4)
1   For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away from the truth. 
2   After all, the message that the angels brought was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience was properly punished. 
3   So how will we escape punishment if we reject the important message, the message that God saved us? First, the Lord told this saving message. Then those who heard him confirmed that message. 
4   God verified what they said through miraculous signs, amazing things, other powerful acts, and with other gifts from the Holy Spirit as he wanted.

Faith Directs Our Lives Hebrews 12-1-13) GOD'S WORD AND THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION

HEBREWS 12:1-13 GOD'S WORD

1    Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.

2    We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. 

3    Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.

4    You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you. 

5    You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children:  “My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you.  Don’t give up when he corrects you.  

6    The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.  He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.”

7    Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. 

8    If you aren’t disciplined like the other children, you aren’t part of the family. 

9    On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn’t we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live? 

10  For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. 

11  We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

12  Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees. 

13  Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal.

THE MESSAGE 12:1-13

1-3    Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

4-11   In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?  My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either.  It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.  God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

12-13  So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

Warning Against Refusing God (Hebrews 12:14-17) ... The Message Translation and God's Word Translation

THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION
Hebrews 12:14-17
14-17  Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.

GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION
HEBREWS 12:14-17
14  Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord. 
15  Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you. 
16  Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal. 
17  You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn’t do anything to change what had happened.

The Grace Of God (Titus 2:11-15) NIV

11  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Instructions On The Way Christians Should Live (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) GOD’S WORD Translation

1  Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you. 
2  You know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 
3  It is God’s will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him. 
4  Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way, 
5  not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don’t know God. 
6  No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this. 
7  God didn’t call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy. 
8  Therefore, whoever rejects this order is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Advice for All Christians (Colossians 4:2-6) God's Word translation

2  Keep praying. Pay attention when you offer prayers of thanksgiving. 

3  At the same time also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to speak the word so that we may tell the mystery about Christ. It is because of this mystery that I am a prisoner. 

4  Pray that I may make this mystery as clear as possible. This is what I have to do.

5  Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside the Christian faith. Make the most of your opportunities.

6  Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.

May You Be Blessed, 

Mary

Let Christ's Peace Control You (Colossians 3:9-17) God's Word translation

9   Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 
10 and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. 
11  Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.
12  As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 
13  Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
14  Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly. 
15  Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. 
16  Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness. Sing to God in your hearts. 
17  Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Live as God’s People (Colossians 3:1-8) God's Word translation

1  Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. 

2  Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. 

3  You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

4  Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

5  Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 

6  It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.

7  You used to live that kind of sinful life. 

8  Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 

Beware of Requirements Invented by Humans (Colossians 2:8-23) "God's Word" translation

8    Be careful not to let anyone rob you of this faith through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.

9    All of God lives in Christ’s body, 

10  and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority. 

11  In him you were also circumcised. It was not a circumcision performed by human hands. But it was a removal of the corrupt nature in the circumcision performed by Christ. 

12  This happened when you were placed in the tomb with Christ through baptism. In baptism you were also brought back to life with Christ through faith in the power of God, who brought him back to life.

13  You were once dead because of your failures and your uncircumcised corrupt nature. But God made you alive with Christ when he forgave all our failures. 

14  He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the written laws God had established. He took the charges away by nailing them to the cross. 

15  He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power and made a public spectacle of them as he celebrated his victory in Christ.

16  Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly worship days. 

17  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts the shadow belongs to Christ.

18  Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels tell you that you don’t deserve a prize. Such a person, whose sinful mind fills him with arrogance, gives endless details of the visions he has seen. 

19  He doesn’t hold on to Christ, the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments.

20  If you have died with Christ to the world’s way of doing things, why do you let others tell you how to live? It’s as though you were still under the world’s influence. 

21  People will tell you, “Don’t handle this! Don’t taste or touch that!” 

22  All of these things deal with objects that are only used up anyway. 

23  These things look like wisdom with their self-imposed worship, false humility, and harsh treatment of the body. But they have no value for holding back the constant desires of your corrupt nature.

What God Has Done Through Christ (Colossians 1:13-23) "The Word"

13  God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves. 

14  His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven.

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16  He created all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.  Whether they are kings or lords, rulers or powers—everything has been created through him and for him.

17  He existed before everything and holds everything together.

18  He is also the head of the church, which is his body.  He is the beginning, the first to come back to life

      so that he would have first place in everything.

19  God was pleased to have all of himself live in Christ. 

20  God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.

21  Once you were separated from God. The evil things you did showed your hostile attitude. 

22  But now Christ has brought you back to God by dying in his physical body. He did this so that you could come into God’s presence without sin, fault, or blame. 

23  This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.

Thank You For Not Giving Up On Me

Copied from Grace and Mercy of God webpage/ Facebook ........I thought I would share this.  It is truly wonderful & humbling

Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am
thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they
stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am
thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed, I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
I’m thanking you because dear FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.
~~Amen

God Is Not Unjust (Hebrews 6:10-12) ESV

10  For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
11  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
12  so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Jesus Taught on Judging Others (Luke 6:37-42) ESV

37  “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 
38  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
39  He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 
40  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 
41  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 
42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

What Jesus Says About Loving Your Enemies (Luke 6:27-36) NRSV

27  “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 
28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 
29  If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 
30  Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
31  Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33  If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34  If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 
35  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 
36  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Being Subject to Authorities (Romans 13:1-7) NRSV

1  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 
2  Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 
3  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval;
4  for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 
5  Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 
6  For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. 
7  Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Remember Not To Be Overcome by Evil (Romans 12:9-21 & I Thessalonians 5:15-18) Amplified Bible

9    [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.

10  Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

11  Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

12  Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.

13  Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality.

14  Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.

15  Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].

16  Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.

17  Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.

18  If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.

20  But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.

21  Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

^{1 Thessalonians 5:15-18}

15  See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

16  Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

17  Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

18  Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

Love (I Corinthians 13:1-13) NLT

1    I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. 

2    I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing. 

3    I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.

4    Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; 

5    love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; 

6    love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. 

7    Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

8    Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.

9    For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; 

10  but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.

11  When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. 

12  What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete—as complete as God's knowledge of me.

13  Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.