Verses from 1 Corinthians

你们不知道不义的人不能承受神的国吗？不要自欺，无论是行淫乱的、拜偶像的、奸淫的、作娈童的、亲男色的、偷窃的、贪心的、醉酒的、辱骂人的或勒索的，都不能承受神的国。你们有些人从前也是这样的，但现在借着我们主耶稣基督的名，靠着我们神的灵，都已经洗净了，圣洁了，称义了。(哥林多前书 6:9-11)

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

We can all find ourselves in Paul’s list in 1 Corinthians. But when we confess our sin and accept the gift of eternal life paid for by the death of Jesus, we become a new creation saved by grace (Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17).

Verse from Proverbs

你要谨守你的心，胜过谨守一切，因为生命的泉源由此而出。(箴言 4:23)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

it’s difficult advice to keep. Life will always make demands upon our time and energy that cry out for immediate attention. By comparison, taking time to hear God’s Word and to do what it says may not shout quite so loudly. We may not notice the consequences of neglect right away, but over time it may give way to a spiritual heart attack.

Thankfully God has given us His Word. We need His help not to neglect it, but to use it to align our hearts with His every day.

Verse from Jeremiah

夸口的却要因了解我，认识我而夸口；认识我是耶和华，我在地上施行慈爱、公正、公义；因为我喜悦这些事。”这是耶和华的宣告。(耶利米书 9:24)

but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)

If we allow praise to inflate our self-image, we’re forgetting that “every good gift . . . comes down from the Father” (James 1:17). It’s better to give God the glory—not only because it protects our hearts from pride but also because He rightfully deserves it. He is God, the One “who does great things . . . marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9).

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted;

Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard;

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action;

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word. —Whiddington 

Verses from Proverbs

你要一心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明；在你一切所行的路上，都要承认他，他必使你的路径平坦正直。(箴言 3:5, 6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Verses from Psalm

你们要称谢耶和华，因他本是良善

的；他的慈爱永远长存。愿耶和华救赎的子民这样称谢他；这民就是他从敌人的手里救赎出来，(诗篇 107:1, 2)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, (Psalm 107:1, 2)

When we consider the greatness of God’s love, His grace in sending Jesus Christ to die for us and rise again, and what He has delivered us from, we cannot keep from praising Him and wanting to tell others how He changed our lives!

O God, my heart is filled with praise for all that You have done for me. You have changed the focus and purpose of my life because You sent Your Son.

Thank You.

Verse from Ezra

现在，耶和华我们的神恩待我们片时，给我们存留一些逃脱的人，使我们像钉子钉在他的圣所那样的安稳，让我们的神光照我们的眼睛，使我们在所受的奴役中稍得复兴。(以斯拉记 9:8)

“But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. (Ezra 9:8)

At times we find that we alone have survived something, and we don’t know why. Soldiers coming home from combat and patients who’ve survived a life-threatening illness struggle to know why they survived when others did not.

The Old Testament speaks of a remnant of Israelites whom God spared when the nation was sent into exile. The remnant preserved God’s law and later rebuilt the temple (Ezra 9:9). The apostle Paul referred to himself as part of the remnant of God (Rom. 11:1,5). He was spared to become God’s messenger to Gentiles (v.13).

If we stand where others have fallen, it’s to raise our hands to heaven in praise and to spread our arms as shade for the weary. The Lord enables us to be a tree of rest for others.

Verse from Matthew

有一个患痲风的人前来向他跪拜，说：“主啊！如果你肯，必能使我洁净。”(马太福音 8:2)

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2)

What an example this leper is to me, Lord. 

Give me a heart of worship, of confidence in Your power, and

of trust that when I bring my needs to You, You’ll make the best choice. May I surrender to Your will.