Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Mem

Jethro, Moses’ Father-in-law

18 Now ^(A)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard about everything that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took in Moses’ wife ^(B)Zipporah, after he had sent her away, ³ and her ^(C)two sons, ^[a]one of whom was named Gershom, for Moses said, “I have been ^(D)a stranger in a foreign land.” ⁴ And ^[b]the other was named ^[c](E)Eliezer, for he said, “^(F)The God of my father was my help, and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

⁵ Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses ^[d]in the wilderness where he was camped, at ^(G)the mountain of God. ⁶ And he ^[e]sent word to Moses: “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” ⁷ Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and ^(H)he bowed down and ^(I)kissed him; and they ^(J)asked each other about their welfare, and went into the tent. ⁸ Moses told his father-in-law everything that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians ^(K)for Israel’s sake, all the ^(L)hardship that had confronted them on the journey, and how ^(M)the Lord had rescued them. ⁹ And Jethro rejoiced over all ^(N)the goodness which the Lord had done for Israel, ^[f]in rescuing ^[g]them from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ So Jethro said, “^(O)Blessed be the Lord who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that ^(P)the Lord is greater than all the gods; indeed, ^[h](Q)it was proven when they acted insolently against ^[i]the people.” ^12 (R)Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat ^[j]a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

²⁷ to whom ^(A)God willed to make known what ^(B)the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is ^(C)Christ in you, the ^(D)hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, ^(E)admonishing every person and teaching every person ^[a]with all ^(F)wisdom, so that we may ^(G)present every person ^[b](H)complete in Christ. ²⁹ For this purpose I also ^(I)labor, ^(J)striving ^(K)according to His ^[c]power which ^[d]works mightily within me.

You Are Built Up in Christ

2 For I want you to know how great a ^(L)struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at ^(M)Laodicea, and for all those who have not ^[e]personally seen my face, ² that their ^(N)hearts may be encouraged, having been ^(O)knit together in love, and that they would attain to all ^(P)the wealth ^[f]that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a ^(Q)true knowledge of ^(R)God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, ³ in whom are hidden all ^(S)the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ^4 (T)I say this so that no one will deceive you with ^(U)persuasive arguments. ⁵ For even though I am ^(V)absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing ^[g]to see ^[h]your ^(W)orderly manner and the ^(X)stability of your faith in Christ.

⁶ Therefore, as you have received ^(Y)Christ Jesus the Lord, so ^[i](Z)walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly ^(AA)rooted and now being ^(AB)built up in Him and ^(AC)established ^[j]in ^[k]your faith, just as you ^(AD)were instructed, and overflowing ^[l]with gratitude.