“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun
to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous
and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your
own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
Is there more to this life than living and dying?
More than just trying to make it through the day? More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see, more than this life alone can be?
Is there? Is there more?
– -Steven Curtis Chapman, “More to this Life”
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our
God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8 (NIV)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
The world is too much with us;
late and soon,
Getting and spending,
we lay waste our powers;—
“The World is Too Much With Us”
William Wordsworth
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still
part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander,
and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other,
for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature,
and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free.
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Colossians 3:1-11
New Living Translation (NLT)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule
in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.
And always be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)