(Click numbers for Biblical references.)

God's plan is that we live a joyful¹ and abundant life² in close relation with Him³ and with one another.⁴ It is clear that on the basis of our thoughts,⁵ words⁶ and deeds⁷ that this harmony has been broken⁸ and there is a problem in human life,⁹ for people have serious conflicts with each other¹⁰ and within themselves.¹¹ This sense of alienation also characterizes our relationship with God.¹² The root of this estrangement¹³ is in our own rebellion against God.¹⁴ The results of our sin are serious¹⁵ and we are unable to resolve them.¹⁶

God has made a provision in Christ¹⁷ for restoring fellowship with us.¹⁸ By His grace¹⁹ Christ has forgiven our sin²⁰ and opened the way for us²¹ to find abundant²² and eternal life²³ in harmony with God,²⁴ with ourselves²⁵ and with others.²⁶ This new life is a gift²⁷ which we receive²⁸ only as we open our hearts to Christ²⁹ entrust our lives to Him,³⁰ confessing our dependence upon Him³¹ and our intention to follow Him.³² All this is God's doing³³ and it is marvelous to our eyes.

God has called us to know Him³⁴ and to make Him known.³⁵ We are called to be committed: first to Christ as Savior and Lord³⁶ then to Christ's church as the family of faith,³⁷ and finally to Christ's work of compassion in the community and around the world.³⁸

We marvel at the wisdom of God's plan.³⁹ We respond in faith⁴⁰ and gratitude⁴¹ for His gracious provision⁴² and we trust God for strength to be faithful to His calling.⁴³

To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Biblical references:

The Holy Bible - New International Version
© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society

[1] John 15:11 —
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. [top]

[2] John 10:10b —
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [top]

[3] James 4:8 —
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [top]

[4] I John 1:2-8 —
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [top]

[5] Isaiah 55:8 —
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. [top]

[6] John 12:48 —
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. [top]

[7] Isaiah 55:8 —
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. [top]

[8] Isaiah 59:2 —
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. [top]

[9] Ephesians 2:1-3 —
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. [top]

[10] I Corinthians 3:3 —
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? [top]

[11] James 1:6-13 —
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [top]

[12] Colossians 1:21 —
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. [top]

[13] Ephesians 2:12 —
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [top]

[14] I John 3:4 —
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. [top]

[15] Romans 3:23 —
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [top]

[16] Romans 3:20 —
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. [top]

[17] Romans 5:8 —
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [top]

[18] II Corinthians 5:18-19 —
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [top]

[19] Ephesians 2:8-9 —
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith;and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast. [top]

[20] Ephesians 1:7 —
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace [top]

[21] Hebrews 10:20 —
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [top]

[22] John 10:10b —
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [top]

[23] John 3:16 —
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [top]

[24] II Corinthians 5:18-19 —
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. [top]

[25] Philippians 4:7-9 —
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. [top]

[26] Romans 12:16 —
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. [top]

[27] Romans 6:23b —
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [top]

[28] John 1:12-13 —
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God: children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. [top]

[29] Revelation 3:20 —
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. [top]

[30] Colossians 2:6 —
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, [top]

[31] Proverbs 3:5-6 —
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. [top]

[32] I John 2:6 —
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. [top]

[33] Ephesians 2:8,9 —
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast. [top]

[34] I Corinthians 1:9 —
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. [top]

[35] John 15:16 —
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. [top]

[36] Romans 10:7,10 —
or Who will descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.[top]

[37] Hebrews 10:24-25 —
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. [top]

[38] Matthew 28:18-20 —
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." [top]

[39] Romans 11:33 —
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [top]

[40] Romans 1:17 —
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." [top]

[41] I John 4:19 —
We love because he first loved us. [top]

[42] Romans 3:8 —
Why not say (as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say) "Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is deserved. [top]

[43] I Corinthians 4:2 —
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. [top]