One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 344
3In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won overG3668G1135G5293G2398G435G2443G1536G544G3056G2770G2532G2770G427G3056G2770G1223G391G1135 2by observing your pure and reverent lives.G2029G5216G53G391G1722G5401 3Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.G3739G2889G2077G3756G2077G1855G1708G2359G2532G4025G5553G2228G1745G2440 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.G235G2927G444G2588G1722G862G4239G2532G2272G4151G3739G2076G1799G2316G4185 5This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.G1063G3779G4218G40G1135G2532G3588G1679G1909G2316G2885G1438G5293G2398G435 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.G5613G4564G5219G11G2564G846G2962G3739G5043G1096G15G2532G5399G3361G5399G3367G4423 7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.G3668G435G4924G2596G1108G632G5092G1134G5613G772G4632G2532G5613G4789G5485G2222G1519G5216G4335G1581G3361G1581 8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.G1161G5056G3956G3675G4835G5361G2155G5391 9Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.G3361G591G2556G473G2556G2228G3059G473G3059G1161G5121G2129G1492G3754G2564G1519G5124G2564G2443G2816G2127 10For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.G1063G2309G25G2222G2532G1492G18G2250G3973G846G1100G575G2556G2532G846G5491G2980G3361G1388 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.G1578G575G2556G2532G4160G18G2212G1515G2532G1377G846 12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."G3754G3788G2962G1909G1342G2532G846G3775G1519G846G1162G1161G4383G2962G1909G4160G2556 13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?G2532G5101G2559G5209G1437G1096G3402G18 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats.G235G1499G3958G1223G1343G3107G1161G5399G3361G5399G846G5401G3366G5015 15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.G1161G37G2962G2316G1722G5216G2588G1161G2092G104G4314G627G3956G154G5209G3056G4012G1680G1722G5213G3326G4240G2532G5401 16But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.G2192G18G4893G2443G1722G3739G2635G5216G5613G2555G2617G1908G5216G18G391G1722G5547 17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!G1063G2909G1487G2307G2316G2309G3958G15G2228G2554 18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.G3754G5547G2532G530G3958G4012G266G1342G5228G94G2443G4317G2248G2316G2289G3303G4561G1161G2227G4151 19So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—G1722G3739G2532G4198G2784G4151G1722G5438 20those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.G4218G544G3753G530G3115G2316G1551G1722G2250G3575G2787G2680G1519G3739G3641G5123G3638G5590G1295G1223G5204 21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.G499G3739G908G4982G2532G3568G4982G2248G3756G595G4509G4561G235G1906G18G4893G1519G2316G1223G386G2424G5547 22Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.G3739G4198G1519G3772G2076G1722G1188G2316G32G2532G1849G2532G1411G5293G846
4So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.G3767G5547G3958G5228G2257G4561G3695G5210G2532G846G1771G3754G3958G1722G4561G3973G266 2You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.G1519G980G3371G980G1954G5550G1722G4561G1939G444G235G2307G2316 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.G1063G5550G3928G979G713G2254G2716G2307G1484G4198G1722G766G1939G3632G2970G4224G2532G111G1495 4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.G1722G3739G3579G5216G4936G3361G1519G846G401G810G987 5But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.G3739G591G3056G2192G2093G2919G2198G2532G3498 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.G1063G1519G5124G2097G2532G3498G2443G2919G3303G2596G444G4561G1161G2198G2596G2316G4151 7The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.G1161G5056G3956G1448G4993G3767G4993G2532G3525G1519G4335 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.G1161G4253G3956G2192G1618G26G1519G1438G3754G26G2572G4128G266 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.G5382G1519G240G427G1112 10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.G2531G1538G2983G5486G1247G846G1519G1438G5613G2570G3623G4164G5485G2316 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.G1536G2980G5613G3051G2316G1536G1247G5613G1537G2479G3739G2316G5524G2443G2316G1722G3956G1392G1223G2424G5547G3739G2076G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281 12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.G27G3579G3361G3579G5213G4451G1722G1096G4314G3986G5213G5613G3581G4819G5213 13Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.G235G5463G2526G2841G5547G3804G2443G1722G846G1391G602G5463G2532G21 14So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.G1487G3679G1722G3686G5547G3107G3754G4151G1391G2532G2316G373G1909G5209G2596G3303G846G987G1161G2596G5209G1392 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.G1063G3958G3361G5100G5216G3958G5613G5406G2228G2812G2228G2555G2228G5613G244 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!G1161G1487G5613G5546G153G3361G153G1161G1392G2316G1722G5129G3313 17For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?G3754G2540G2917G756G575G3624G2316G1161G1487G4412G575G2257G5101G5056G544G2098G2316 18And also, "If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?"G2532G1487G1342G3433G4982G4226G5316G765G2532G268G5316 19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.G5620G2532G3908G3958G2596G2307G2316G3908G1438G5590G1722G16G5613G4103G2939
5And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you.G4245G1722G5213G3870G3588G4850G2532G3144G3804G5547G2532G2844G1391G3195G601 2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.G4165G4168G2316G1722G5213G1983G3361G317G235G1596G3366G147G235G4290 3Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.G3366G5613G2634G2819G235G1096G5179G4168 4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.G2532G750G5319G2865G4735G1391G262 5In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."G3668G3501G5293G4245G1161G3956G5293G240G1463G5012G3754G2316G498G5244G1161G1325G5485G5011 6So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.G5013G3767G5259G2900G5495G2316G2443G5312G5209G1722G2540 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.G1977G3956G5216G3308G1909G846G3754G846G3199G4012G5216 8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.G3525G1127G3754G5216G476G1228G5613G5612G3023G4043G2212G5101G2666 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.G3739G436G4731G4102G1492G846G3804G2005G5216G81G1722G2889 10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.G1161G2316G3956G5485G3588G2564G2248G1519G846G166G1391G1722G5547G2424G3958G3641G846G2675G5209G2675G4741G4599G2311 11All power to him forever! Amen.G846G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281 12I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.G1223G4610G4103G80G5213G5613G3049G1125G1223G3641G3870G2532G1957G5026G1511G227G5485G2316G1519G3739G2476 13Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.G1722G897G4899G782G5209G2532G3138G3450G5207 14Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.G782G240G1722G5370G26G1515G5213G3956G1722G5547G2424G281
34[A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away.] I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.H1732H8138H2940H6440H40H1644H3212H1288H3068H6256H8416H8548H6310 2I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.H5315H1984H3068H6035H8085H8055 3Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together.H1431H3068H7311H8034H3162 4I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.H1875H3068H6030H5337H4035 5Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.H5027H5102H6440H2659 6In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.H6041H7121H3068H8085H3467H6869 7For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.H4397H3068H2583H5439H3373H2502 8Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!H2938H7200H3068H2896H835H1397H2620 9Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.H3372H3068H6918H4270H3373 10Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.H3715H7326H7456H1875H3068H2637H2896 11Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the LORD.H3212H1121H8085H3925H3374H3068 12Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?H376H2655H2416H157H3117H7200H2896 13Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!H5341H3956H7451H8193H1696H4820 14Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.H5493H7451H6213H2896H1245H7965H7291 15The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.H5869H3068H6662H241H7775 16But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.H6440H3068H6213H7451H3772H2143H776 17The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.H6817H3068H8085H5337H6869 18The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.H3068H7138H7665H3820H3467H1793H7307 19The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.H7227H7451H6662H3068H5337 20For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!H8104H6106H259H2007H7665 21Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.H7451H4191H7563H8130H6662H816 22But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.H3068H6299H5315H5650H2620H816
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. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.G1161
