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Friday, April 19th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter

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Daily Bible Reading

December 13 - Straight Thru the Bible
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Jump to: Philippians 3-4 • Colossians 1

Philippians 3-4

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Chapter 3 No Confidence in the Flesh

¹ Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,^(a) and it is a safeguard for you. ² Watch out for those dogs,^(b) those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³ For it is we who are the circumcision,^(c) we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus,^(d) and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.^(e)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised^(f) on the eighth day, of the people of Israel,^(g) of the tribe of Benjamin,^(h) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;⁽ⁱ⁾ ⁶ as for zeal,^(j) persecuting the church;^(k) as for righteousness based on the law,^(l) faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(m) for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing⁽ⁿ⁾ Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^(o) ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(p) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(q) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^(r) ¹⁰ I want to know^(s) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(t) becoming like him in his death,^(u) ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(v) from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(w) but I press on to take hold^(x) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^(y) ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(z) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(aa) toward the goal to win the prize^(ab) for which God has called^(ac) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul's Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(ad) should take such a view of things.^(ae) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(af) ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example,^(ag) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^(ah) ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(ai) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^(aj) ¹⁹ Their destiny^(ak) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(al) and their glory is in their shame.^(am) Their mind is set on earthly things.^(an) ²⁰ But our citizenship^(ao) is in heaven.^(ap) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^(aq) ²¹ who, by the power^(ar) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(as) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(at)

Chapter 4 Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

¹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(a) my joy and crown, stand firm^(b) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind^(c) in the Lord. ³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,^(d) whose names are in the book of life.^(e)

Final Exhortations

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!^(f) ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.^(g) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything,^(h) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.⁽ⁱ⁾ ⁷ And the peace of God,^(j) which transcends all understanding,^(k) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.^(l) And the God of peace^(m) will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.⁽ⁿ⁾ Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content^(o) whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^(p) whether living in plenty or in want.^(q) ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(r)

¹⁴ Yet it was good of you to share^(s) in my troubles. ¹⁵ Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(t) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(u) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^(v) ¹⁶ for even when I was in Thessalonica,^(w) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.^(x) ¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^(y) ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(z) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(aa) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs^(ab) according to the riches of his glory^(ac) in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ To our God and Father^(ad) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(ae)

Final Greetings

²¹ Greet all God's people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me^(af) send greetings. ²² All God's people^(ag) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ^(ah) be with your spirit.^(ai) Amen.^[a]

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Colossians 1

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Chapter 1

¹ Paul, an apostle^(a) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(b) and Timothy^(c) our brother,

² To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[a] in Christ:

Grace^(d) and peace to you from God our Father.^[b]^(e)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God,^(f) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love^(g) you have for all God's people^(h)— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope⁽ⁱ⁾ stored up for you in heaven^(j) and about which you have already heard in the true message^(k) of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit^(l) and growing throughout the whole world^(m)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras,⁽ⁿ⁾ our dear fellow servant,^[c] who is a faithful minister^(o) of Christ on our^[d] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.^(p)

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you,^(q) we have not stopped praying for you.^(r) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will^(s) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^[e]^(t) ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy^(u) of the Lord and please him^(v) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,^(w) ¹¹ being strengthened with all power^(x) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,^(y) ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father,^(z) who has qualified you^[f] to share in the inheritance^(aa) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.^(ab) ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(ac) and brought us into the kingdom^(ad) of the Son he loves,^(ae) ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption,^(af) the forgiveness of sins.^(ag)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(ah) of the invisible God,^(ai) the firstborn^(aj) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(ak) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(al) all things have been created through him and for him.^(am) ¹⁷ He is before all things,^(an) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(ao) of the body, the church;^(ap) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(aq) from among the dead,^(ar) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(as) to have all his fullness^(at) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(au) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(av) by making peace^(aw) through his blood,^(ax) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(ay) in your minds^(az) because of^[g] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(ba) you by Christ's physical body^(bb) through death to present you^(bc) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(bd)— ²³ if you continue^(be) in your faith, established^(bf) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(bg) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(bh) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(bi)

Paul's Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(bj) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions,^(bk) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^(bl) ²⁵ I have become its servant^(bm) by the commission God gave me^(bn) to present to you the word of God^(bo) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(bp) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(bq) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(br) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(bs) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(bt) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(bu) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(bv) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(bw) contend^(bx) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(by)