Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Thanksgiving to God

Restoration of Judah and Jerusalem

33 This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard: ² “This is what the Lord says who made the earth, the Lord who formed it in order to establish it—whose name is the Lord— ³ ‘Call to me and I’ll answer you, and will tell you about great and hidden^[a] things that you don’t know.’ ⁴ For this is what the Lord God of Israel says about the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to defend^[b] against the siege ramps and the sword, ⁵ ‘The Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill those houses with the dead bodies of the people that I’ve struck down in my anger and wrath, for I’ve hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness.

⁶ “‘Look, I’ll bring restoration and healing to it, and I’ll heal them. I’ll reveal to them an abundance of peace and faithfulness. ⁷ I’ll restore the security of Judah and Israel^[c] and rebuild them as they were at first. ⁸ I’ll cleanse them from all their sin that they have committed against me, and I’ll forgive all their sins that they committed against me and by which they rebelled against me. ⁹ Jerusalem^[d] will be for me a name of joy, praise, and glory to all the nations of the earth that hear about all the good that I’m doing for them. They’ll fear and tremble because of all the good and because of all the peace that I’m bringing to Jerusalem.’^[e]

Blameless Living

¹² And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him. ¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing ¹⁵ so that you may be blameless and innocent, God’s children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the Messiah^[a] returns^[b] that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.

¹⁷ Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the sacrifice and service I offer^[c] for your faith, I rejoice, and I share my joy with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.