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Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Titus 3:7 (New Living Translation)

So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:7 (New International Version)

God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life!

Titus 3:7 (The Message)

Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be.

Romans 12:5 (The Message)

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:5 (New International Version)

So it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Romans 12:5 (New Living Translation)

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

James 1:17 (New Living Translation)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 (New International Version)

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

James 1:17 (The Message)

Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Ephesians 5:17 (New Living Translation)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:17 (New International Version)

Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

Ephesians 5:17 (The Message)

When God entered time and became a man, he who was boundless became bound. Imprisoned in flesh. Restricted by weary-prone muscles and eyelids. For more than three decades, his once limitless reach would be limited to the stretch of an arm, his speed checked to the pace of human feet.

I wonder, was he ever tempted to reclaim his boundlessness? In the middle of a long trip, did he ever consider transporting himself to the next city? When the rain chilled his bones, was he tempted to change the weather? When the heat parched his lips, did he give thought to popping over to the Caribbean for some refreshment?

If ever he entertained such thoughts, he never gave in to them. Not once. Stop and think about this. Not once did Christ use his supernatural powers for personal comfort. With one word he could’ve transformed the hard earth into a soft bed, but he didn’t. With a wave of his hand, he could’ve boomeranged the spit of his accusers back into their faces, but he didn’t. With an arch of his brow, he could’ve paralyzed the hand of the soldier as he braided the crown of thorns. But he didn’t.

Want to know the coolest thing about the coming?

Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air, food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and, more than anything, needing somebody—anybody—who was more concerned about where he would spend eternity than where he would spend Friday’s paycheck.

Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he ever had felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no command to the angels who begged, “Just give the nod, Lord. One word and these demons will be deviled eggs.”

Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every sin since Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven and the giver of light was left in the chill of a sinner’s night.

Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the Easter sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer—“Is that your best punch?”

That was cool, incredibly cool.

But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns?

He did it for you. Just for you.

by Max Lucado

As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 (New Living Translation)

As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)

You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Psalm 138:8 (New Living Translation)

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:8 (New International Version)

When I walk into the thick of trouble,
keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
strike my foes,
With your other hand
save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.

Psalm 138:8 (The Message)