Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A song to sing as we climb.

I have great trouble

⁹ They say, ‘Why does the Lord try to teach us like that? Who does he think that we are? He speaks to us as if we are babies! He thinks that we have just left our mother's breast! ¹⁰ He teaches us one rule at a time, one line at a time. He says it several times, a little bit here, a little bit there.’

¹¹ So now the Lord will use foreign enemies to speak to these people. He will speak to them in a strange language.

¹² In the past, he said to them, ‘This is a place where you can rest when you are tired. It is a place where you can be safe.’ But his people refused to listen. ¹³ So the Lord's message will seem to them like, ‘One rule at a time, one line at a time, a little bit here, a little bit there.’ So as they try to move forward, they will fall over. An enemy will hurt them, and he will catch them in a trap.

We must use God's gifts properly

⁷ All things in this world will soon come to an end. So you must think clearly. Then you will be able to pray in a serious way. ⁸ Continue to love each other very much. That is more important than anything else. If you love people, you will forgive them for any wrong things that they have done. ⁹ Always be happy to have other believers as visitors in your homes.

¹⁰ God has helped each of you in a certain way. Think carefully about how to use that gift from God well. Remember that God has given many different gifts to his people so that they can help each other. ¹¹ Has God helped you to speak well? Then speak God's messages to people. Or has God helped you to serve other people? Then let God make you strong to do that. Do everything so that people will praise God. They will say that God is great, because of Jesus Christ. He is the one who has all authority and power for ever. Everyone should praise him! Amen! This is true!

Christians must be ready to have trouble and pain

¹² My friends, I know that people are causing you to have bad trouble. It is like a fire that is burning you. Do not be surprised about that. These things are happening to you, to show whether you really trust God. Do not think that something strange is happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be happy when you have trouble. Remember that Christ also received much trouble and pain. If you have trouble like he did, then you will be happy when he returns. At that time, everyone will see how great Christ really is. Then you will be very happy with a great joy. ¹⁴ People may insult you because you belong to Christ. But God will bless you when that happens. It shows that the Holy Spirit is with you. He is God's great Spirit.

¹⁵ Do not murder anyone. Do not rob anyone. Do not do evil things. Do not try to cause trouble for other people. If you do those things, you deserve to have trouble. ¹⁶ But if you receive trouble because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed about that. Instead, you should praise God that you belong to Christ.

¹⁷ The time has come when God will start to judge people. He will first judge the people who belong to him. If he will start with his own people, what will happen to other people? They have refused to obey God's good news, so it will surely be very bad for them. ¹⁸ The Bible says:

¹⁹ So remember this. If you receive trouble because that is what God wants, you should continue to trust him. God made you and he always does what he has promised. So you should continue to do what is good.