The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness (John 1:14; NLT).
Thank you for your faithfulness,
Your help, your strength, your caring.
Thank you for your gentleness,
Your way, your truth, your sharing.
Thank you for your tenderness,
Your healing and restoring.
Thank you for your sacrifice
Of love and grace, outpouring.
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).
This has been given to you on behalf of Christ, not only so that you may believe in him, but even so that you may suffer with him (Philippians 1:29; CPDV).
I join my pain
To yours, Lord Christ,
And offer it
In sacrifice
For all who suffer,
Grieve, and fear.
Please comfort them,
And keep them near.
Help all of them
To turn to you,
Then find new life
With you, Lord, too.
Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone (Romans 5:18; NLT).
As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:30-31; NLT).
Faith isn’t just assent:
It’s recognition,
And truth is not just facts:
It’s knowing Christ.
Hope isn’t just desire:
It’s stubborn trusting,
And love is not just joy:
It’s sacrifice.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).
I have spared you for a purpose – to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth (Exodus 9:19; NLT).
“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.” And, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27; NLT).
My purpose, Lord, is loving you,
And starting every day anew.
My purpose is to listen, Lord,
And spread to all your grace, outpoured.
My purpose is to grow like Christ,
By sharing in his sacrifice.
My purpose, Lord, is serving you
Through all I think, and say, and do.
My purpose is to run the race
You’ve set for me, then see your face.
My purpose is to worship you
On earth, Lord, then in heaven, too.
I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).
References
We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1; NLT).
The throne of the Almighty and of the Lamb will be there, and God’s subjects will serve faithfully. They will see the Most High face to face, and bear God’s name on their foreheads (Revelation 22:3-4; TIB).
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).
God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14; NLT).
God speaks to us through music,
And through words;
Through other people, beauty, peace,
And love.
God speaks to us through stillness,
And through dance;
Through joys and sorrows, prophecy,
And “chance”.
God speaks to us through silence,
And through grief;
Through dread, and pain, and sacrifice,
And blood.
God speaks to us through darkness,
And through strife;
Through loss of faith, and suffering,
And life.
Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).
The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).
References
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45; 7; NLT).
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).
I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).
In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28; NIV).
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
There’s nothing like the feeling
Of your cross, Lord, in my hand;
Nothing like the trials and tests
You help me to withstand.
There’s nothing like the feeling
Of my arms around your cross;
Nothing like your anguish,
So I cling, in pain and loss,
There’s nothing like your love,
So, Lord, I cling here, and adore;
Nothing like your yielding –
So I’ll cling for evermore.
Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).
Jesus cried aloud again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit (Matthew 27:50; NKJV).
Cling to your faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).
Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).
I’m in your hands:
My heart is yours.
May I reflect your love
To all I meet.
I’m in your hands:
My mind is yours.
May all my thoughts
Grow more like those of Christ.
I’m in your hands:
My soul is yours.
May it become your temple
Here on earth.
I’m in your hands:
My flesh is yours –
Offered for all
In willing sacrifice.
I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).
References
All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).
Prayer is paradise, with you;
Forgiving, a delight.
Sacrifice is joy, with you,
And darkness, Lord, is bright.
Love is born again, with you;
Salvation cleanses sin.
Suffering is health, with you –
Your Kingdom is within.
The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).
References
Even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you (Psalm 139:12; CSB).
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3; NLT).
If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7; NLT).
You also are complete through your union with Christ (Colossians 2:10; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; JB).
May I be holy, Lord,
In all I do;
In all I think and say
Each day, like you.
In every kind of suffering
And pain,
May I be holy, always,
And remain
Your faithful servant,
And your willing slave:
Patient, thankful, joyful, kind,
And brave.
Then, despite each sacrifice
And loss,
I will be holy, still,
And bear my cross.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
References
God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time (Hebrews 10:10; NLT).
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT).
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; NLT).
In every kind of suffering
May we identify with Christ,
Who dedicated all his days
To service and self-sacrifice.
In physical and mental anguish,
Trials and sorrows, all God sends,
Let’s offer up our pain and grief
For others’ sins. Let’s make amends
On their behalf, ask God to heal
All their afflictions, and restore
Their souls to faith, hope, love and joy –
Through Christ our Lord, for evermore.
I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church (Colossians 1:24; NLT).