Proverbs

The Blessing of the Upright

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If he said thus, “The speckled shall be thy wages;” then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, “The ringstraked shall be thy hire;” then bare all the cattle ringstraked.  Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Genesis 31:8-9

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 11:10-11

The Mouth of the Righteous

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And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, “Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.  And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.” And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.
Genesis 28:1-5

The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.
Psalm 47:9

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Proverbs 10:11-14

My Voice, My Charge, My Commandments, My Statutes, and My Laws

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And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.  And the LORD appeared unto him, and said,
“Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Genesis 26:1-5

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.  The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.  The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Psalm 41:1-3

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:8-10

The LORD Does What He Says He Will Do

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And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken.  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.  And Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.”  And she said, “Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? For I have born him a son in his old age.”  And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 21:1-8

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
Psalm 33:8-9

…He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life…
Proverbs 7:22-23

Shall I Hide… That Thing Which I Do?

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And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.  And the LORD said,
“Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.”
And the LORD said,
“Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;  I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.”
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
Genesis 18:16-22

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:3-4

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Our Protector and Our Reward

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After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
Genesis 15:1

Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way.  The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Psalm 25:8-10

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Proverbs 5:1-2

The Path of Life and Light

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And they said, “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:4

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11
For Thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm 18:28

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Sing Unto the LORD

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My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:11-12

I will sing unto the LORD, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.  Psalm 13:6

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in His heart,
“I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”
And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them,
“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man.  And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.”
And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
“And I, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with your seed after you; and with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.  And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Genesis 8:20 – 9:11

Wisdom of Following Jesus

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“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them,
‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’
And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him.”  Matthew 4:18-20

“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.”  Proverbs 2:6-9

He called His name JESUS

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“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.”  Proverbs 1:24-27

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name JESUS.”   Matthew 1:24-25

Lest… I take the name of my God in vain

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“Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die: ‘Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.’ ”  Proverbs 30:7-9

Prayer for needs, not wealth or riches, neither poverty lest we be poor and steal and take the name of God in vain. Pray also to be delivered from vanity and from lies – personal lying and deceiving lies of others.

So let us pray, not only for self, but also for one another; our neighbor – be they friend or foe.

Sharing What We Know

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“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”  Proverbs 29:11

“For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”  Acts 28:20

May we as Christians learn when to speak what we know, and the right time to speak it; and to speak with it seasoned with salt and filled with love, mercy and grace.

What the Christ must know most is that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and that He rose again. We must also be faithful in proclaiming the whole counsel of God – that is the whole of the word of God; believing and trusting that what God has said will come to pass just as He said it. His word is inerrant and infallible.

Hatred, Deceit, and Repentance

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“…Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.”  Proverbs 26:26

“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”  Acts 26:19-20

Let us pray that all hatred that is covered by deceit be exposed. Christian first, in our own hearts and lives; then in the world and its wicked system that hates all things godly and holy.

May we also pray for the “Heavenly vision” which is the redemption of the lost through the Lord Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection; that the condemned, the hopeless and the helpless might come to faith in Him receiving forgiveness of sin, for their sanctification, and eternal life through Him.

Neighbor, The Way and Hope Toward God

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“Debate thy cause with thy neighbour; and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.”  Proverbs 25:9-10

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”  Acts 24:14-15

As Christians let us pray for our neighbor rather than accuse them to another. Let us treat them the way we desire to be treated. Let us pray, also, that they might find the Way to God through His Son Jesus Christ, because there is no other way.

Remember Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no one comes to the Father, but by Me”  (John 14:6).  Let us pray for the lost, the dying and the perishing to be born again through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Endangered Living to Save Others

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“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.”   Proverbs 24:17-18

“Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Acts 21:13

As Christians we can not rejoice at the fall of someone who hates us. We are to love our enemies, and pray for them who despitefully use us.

Let us be like the apostle Paul who obeying the words of the Lord Jesus risked his life in Jerusalem, knowing his life was in danger, “Loved not his life, unto death” and went to the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ anyway.

Do you love the Lord Jesus today. The Father loved you so much that he gave us His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ. That whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. He died for you, was buried, and He rose again.

Landmarks and the Gospel of Grace

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“Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead their cause with thee.”  Proverbs 23:10-11

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  Acts 20:24

Pray that we as Christians always deal faithfully with those who have no father or mother. That we respect the things that are theirs as we respect what is in our own possession. Remember that the One who has redeemed us is also their Redeemer.

Let us have a heart like the apostle Paul that no matter what comes into our path of life, that we consider none of those things; even our lives; are worthy of our concern: nothing but the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the gospel of grace.

If you have not experienced the gospel of grace you can call on the One who provides it by His death on the cross, His burial and resurrection. “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Encouraging, Giving Strength to One Another

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“Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. ”  Proverbs 22:10

“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”  Acts 18:23

Let us always be aware that there are those who will make a mockery of what the Scripture says, what we believe as Christians, and a mockery of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Deity, power and glory. Through this let us pray for their eyes to be opened to the truth of Jesus Christ, or for God to take them out of the way and His name glorified.

Let us pray always one for another in the faith of Christ to be always walking in the Holy Spirit, full and overflowing. Let us speak words of encouragement and faith to each other, even correction by the Spirit of God; and to be faithful to the Scriptures of the word of God as being the inerrant, infallible word of God.

If you do not know Jesus Christ today; He is the only One who became your sin and took the wrath of the Father upon Himself in the death of the cross, was buried, and He rose again. Call on His name and He will hear you and He will deliver you from sins condemnation.

Established Churches in the Faith

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“The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!”  Proverbs 21:27

“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”  Acts 16:4-5

Seeing that God’s word tells us that the mind of Adam’s race is wicked continually and a sacrifice with wicked intent can only be further abomination, then let us pray that we come to God only through the sacrifice on God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Let those who profess His name believe His word, proclaim His word, and live His word by the power of the Holy Spirit within and glorify His name. No sacrifice we offer can ever bring glory to God.

Let us pray for the continuing establishment of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Scriptures, teaching them, living out our lives for the glory of His name.

Come today to the One, the only One who can redeem You. He died on the cross for our sins (your sins and mine), He was buried taking away all our sins, shame and condemnation, and three days later He came out of that grave alive forever more. Call on His name today.

Open Door of Faith

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“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.”  Proverbs 20:10

“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”  Acts 14:27

Pray that we who name the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior always be just, equitable, and righteous to all people with whom we speak, and with whom we do business.

We must also pray that we always in our gatherings together tell of all that God has done; of His Son Jesus, and His mighty works of grace and mercy in salvation of all who will call on His name.

Will you call on the name that is above every name – the name of Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross, was buried and He rose from the grave and forever lives interceeding for all who have come to Him calling on His name.

False Witnesses and Witnesses of Jesus Christ

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“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”  Proverbs 19:9

“And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”  Acts 10:42-43

Let us pray for strength, courage and faith to always be a true witness to those around us. That when we are around the unbelieving, we do not act as they act, do as they do for that is a false witness of what Jesus Christ has done for us; when they do not see the change He has made in us. Be a faithful witness.

May we always be faithful to the cross of Jesus Christ in our life and testimony. Testifying that Jesus Christ is the Judge of the living and the dead. In His is life, and life everlasting. In Him alone there is forgiveness and cleansing of all sin.

If you have not done so call on the only One who died for your sins. His name is Jesus the Christ. He did on the cross, was buried, and He bodily arose and came out alive.

The Safe Place

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“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. ‘  Proverbs 18:10

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.’ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”  Acts 9:17-18

Let us always remember the safe place for anyone to be is in the name of the LORD, trusting Him, and growing in His love, mercy, grace, and His correction as well.

Remember the tormentor Saul sought to destroy the safe place of the LORD, which is in the name of the LORD, and he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and bowed before Him. When Saul had met the LORD and humbled himself before Him he was filled with the Holy Spirit and the LORD used him mightily for the glory of His name. Let us pray to do likewise in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let me tell you that Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God died on the cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again to justify forever those who will call on His name. If you will call on Him today, right now, He will hear you and will give you eternal life.

Speaking with Wisdom from Knowledge

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“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”  Proverbs 17:27

“And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”  Acts 6:10

In the fifty five years that I have been a born again believer in Jesus Christ I have learned this one thing; “The more I know, the more I realize that I do not know”.

I pray that I will increase in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and that all those who are born again through the blood of Jesus Christ have the same.

I pray that when we speak that we speak with wisdom and grace. That we will realize that all who hear us when we speak with the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the grace and mercy of God through the Spirit of God will be recognized as being from God; but that some will hate us for it. Yet some will receive it and lives will be changed.

Join with me in praying daily for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Knowing What to Speak

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“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”  Proverbs 16:23
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.’ ”  Acts 5:29-31

Pray for a wise heart that teaches the mouth to speak with grace and love and show forth through our lips the word of God to those who are perishing.

Pray also that we know when to speak; and that we be knowledgeable in the word of God and know when to stand against those who would try to thwart the preaching of the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Father’s Instruction and The Prince of Life

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“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.”  Proverbs 15:5

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”  Acts 3:13-15

May we always follow the instruction of wisdom that our earthly fathers have given us; and the instruction and commandments our heavenly Father has given us that we might be wise and clear minded in living life.

Since we know that Jesus was rejected by His own, and was crucified for our sins and the sins of the whole world; let us be faithful to Him, because He was buried, and He rose again and has redeemed us from our sins. May our lives be a testimony and a witness of His love, mercy and grace.

Wisdom, the Heart and the Kingdom

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“Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”  Proverbs 14:33
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, ‘Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them,
‘It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ ”  Acts 1:6-8

Ask for the Lord’s wisdom and understanding that we who are redeemed might be faithful to Him and His will, His way, and His word.

Let us also pray for the zeal and diligence in telling others of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for our sins, His burial – taking our sins away, and His resurrection through which we are justified by God forever.

Let us also keep in mind and heart that He will come again for those who “Love His appearing”.