Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts

4 Therefore, my beloved and ^(A)longed-for brethren, ^(B)my joy and crown, so ^(C)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche ^(D)to be of the same mind in the Lord. ^3 [a]And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who ^(E)labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in ^(F)the Book of Life.

^34 (A)A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Knowing God Through Love^(A)

^7 (B)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who ^(C)loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ^9 (D)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(E)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(F)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(G)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(H)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Behave Like a Christian

^9 (A)Let love be without hypocrisy. ^(B)Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. ^10 (C)Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, ^(D)in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ^12 (E)rejoicing in hope, ^(F)patient^[a] in tribulation, ^(G)continuing steadfastly in prayer; ^13 (H)distributing to the needs of the saints, ^(I)given^[b] to hospitality.

^14 (J)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ^15 (K)Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ^16 (L)Be of the same mind toward one another. ^(M)Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Love Your Enemies^(A)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ^(B)‘You shall love your neighbor ^(C)and hate your enemy.’ ^44 [a]But I say to you, ^(D)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^(E)do good to those who hate you, and pray ^(F)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for ^(G)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ^46 (H)For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your ^[b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the ^[c]tax collectors do so? ^48 (I)Therefore you shall be perfect, just ^(J)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

⁴ just as ^(A)He chose us in Him ^(B)before the foundation of the world, that we should ^(C)be holy and without blame before Him in love,

^10 (A)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(B)let us do good to all, ^(C)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We ^(A)then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (B)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[b]edification. ^3 (C)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ^(D)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” ⁴ For ^(E)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ^5 (F)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may ^(G)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.