The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you were a listener when you’re anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.

Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.”

“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children...”

But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

We love each other because he loved us first.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dishes, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!”

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

“God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!”

Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you?

Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.