Run with Perseverance

(2 Timothy 2:1-13)

1And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us: 2Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who, having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.

3For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.

God Disciplines His Sons

4For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5And you have forgotten the consolation which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord: neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.

6For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth: and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons. For what son is there whom the father doth not correct? 8But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards and not sons. 9Moreover, we have had fathers of our flesh for instructors, and we reverenced them. Shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits and live? 10And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification. 11Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield to them that are exercised by it the most peaceable fruit of justice.

12Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees: 13And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.

A Call to Holiness

(1 Peter 1:13-21)

14Follow peace with all men and holiness: without which no man shall see God. 15Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder and by it many be defiled: 16Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau who for one mess sold his first birthright. 17For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected. For he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.

Our Kingdom Cannot Be Shaken

(Exodus 20:18-21; Deuteronomy 5:22-33)

18For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched and a burning fire and a whirlwind and darkness and storm, 19And the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which they that had excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them. 20For they did not endure that which was said: and if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned. 21And so terrible was that which was seen, Moses said: I am frighted, and tremble. 22But you are come to mount Sion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, 23And to the church of the firstborn who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.

25See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon earth, much more shall not we that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven. 26Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more: and I will move, not only the earth, but heaven also. 27And in that he saith: Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable. 28Therefore, receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace: whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence. 29For our God is a consuming fire.