²⁴ “‘Make an altar^(A) of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings^(B) and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name^(C) to be honored, I will come to you and bless^(D) you.

¹⁶ Let us then approach^(A) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(B) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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^(A) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(B) toward the goal to win the prize^(C) for which God has called^(D) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(E) should take such a view of things.^(F) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(G)

³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^(A)

² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;^(A) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon^(B) he had a vision.^(C) He distinctly saw an angel^(D) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering^(E) before God.^(F)

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

⁶ “I the Lord do not change.^(A) So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.^(B)