Study Desk

I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life here on earth, whether I live or die.

but you need me here in my body.

and that you are not afraid of those who are against you. All of this is proof that your enemies will be destroyed but that you will be saved by God.

God gave you the honor not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him, both of which bring glory to Christ.

Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.

But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant.

Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world.

Yes, he was sick, and nearly died, but God had mercy on him and me too so that I would not have more sadness.

Those things were important to me, but now I think they are worth nothing because of Christ.

Not only those things, but I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him, I have lost all those things, and now I know they are worthless trash. This allows me to have Christ

and to belong to him. Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Christ. God uses my faith to make me right with him.

I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason he made me his.

Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead,

But we should continue following the truth we already have.

But our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.

I am very happy in the Lord that you have shown your care for me again. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it.

But it was good that you helped me when I needed it.

Really, it is not that I want to receive gifts from you, but I want you to have the good that comes from giving.