Book of Common Prayer

But God Chose You To Be The Firstfruits of Salvation. Stand Firm And Hold On To The Truth

¹³ But^[a] we ought to be giving-thanks to God always for you, brothers having been loved by the Lord, because God chose you to be the firstfruit^[b] for salvation in^[c] the holiness of ^[d] the Spirit and faith^[e] in the truth— ¹⁴ to which also He called you through our good-news, for the obtaining^[f] of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ So then, brothers, be standing-firm, and be holding-on-to the traditions which you were taught— whether by word [of mouth] or by our letter. ¹⁶ And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, the One having loved us and having given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.

Keep Pursuing What You Need From God. He Will Give You Good Things

⁷ “Be asking, and it will be given to you; be seeking, and you will find; be knocking, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened. ⁹ Or what person is there from-among you whom his son will ask-for bread— he will not give him a stone^[a], will he? ¹⁰ Or indeed he will ask-for a fish— he will not give him a snake^[b], will he? ¹¹ Therefore if you, being evil, know-how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in the heavens give good things to the ones asking Him!

Treat Others As You Yourself Want To Be Treated

¹² “Therefore, everything that you want^[c] people to be doing to you, thus also you be doing to them. For this is the Law and the Prophets.

Enter God’s Kingdom Through The Narrow Gate, Which Is Found By Few

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate and broad^[d] is the road leading-away to destruction— and many are the ones entering through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and constricted^[e] is the road leading-away to life— and few are the ones finding it.