Grace and Perseverance (Hebrews 12:1–3)
1 UDB You are like a son to me. So I urge also that you let God empower you as a result of Christ Jesus acting kindly toward you. BSB BSB: You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 UDB What you heard me say to you and to many other people also, pass along to reliable and trustworthy men who are capable of teaching my words to others as well. BSB BSB: And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
3 UDB Endure as I do what we suffer for Christ Jesus, like a good soldier endures what he suffers. BSB BSB: Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 UDB You know that soldiers, in order to please their captain, do not become involved in civilian affairs. BSB BSB: A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
5 UDB Likewise, athletes competing in games cannot win unless they obey the rules. BSB BSB: Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
6 UDB And the farmer who works hard must receive his share of the crops first. BSB BSB: The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
7 UDB Think about what I have just written because if you do, the Lord will enable you to understand everything that you need to understand. BSB BSB: Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.
8 UDB As you suffer hardships, remember Jesus Christ. He was a descendant of King David, and God raised him from the dead. This is the good news that I preach. BSB BSB: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,
9 UDB For this good news I suffer to the point of being imprisoned as a criminal. But the word of God is not in prison. BSB BSB: for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
10 UDB Therefore I willingly endure all that I am suffering for the sake of those whom God has chosen. I do this so that Christ Jesus will save them, too, and that they will be forever with him in the glorious place where he is. BSB BSB: For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 UDB You can depend on the words that we sometimes say: "If we have died with Jesus, we will also live with him. BSB BSB: This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 UDB If we endure, we will also reign with him. But if we deny him, he also will deny us. BSB BSB: if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 UDB If we are unfaithful to Jesus, he continues to be faithful, for he cannot deny himself." BSB BSB: if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
The Lord’s Approved Workman 14 UDB Those whom you appointed to teach others God's truth, keep reminding them about these things that I have told you. Warn them before God not to fight over foolish words, because doing so does not help anything and can ruin those who listen. BSB BSB: Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.
15 UDB Work hard so that God will approve you as a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly teaches the true message. BSB BSB: Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
16 UDB Stay away from people who talk in ways that insult God because this kind of talk dishonors God more and more. BSB BSB: But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
17 UDB This kind of words will spread like an infectious disease. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two examples of men who talk like this. BSB BSB: and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 UDB These men have stopped believing. They say that the resurrection of the dead has already happened. In this way they convince some Christians to stop trusting in Christ. BSB BSB: who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
19 UDB However, the truth about God still exists. It is like a firm foundation of a building on which someone has written these words: "The Lord knows those who belong to him" and "Everyone who says he belongs to the Lord must stop doing wicked deeds." BSB BSB: Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
20 UDB In a wealthy person's house, there are not only utensils made of gold and of silver but also utensils made of wood and of clay. The gold and silver utensils are used on special occasions. But the wood and clay utensils are used in ordinary times. BSB BSB: A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
21 UDB Therefore, those who rid themselves of what is evil in their lives will be able to work well for the Lord. They will be like utensils ready to do any kind of good work. They will become very useful to the Master to do special work for him—every good deed, in fact. BSB BSB: So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
22 UDB Do not keep on wanting the sinful things that young people usually desire. Instead, try to do right things. Try to trust in God and love him. Try to live in peace. Stay together with the people who worship the Lord sincerely. BSB BSB: Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 UDB Do not talk with anyone who foolishly wants to argue about matters that are not important. Do not talk with them, because you know that when people talk about foolish things, they begin to quarrel. BSB BSB: But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
24 UDB But those who serve the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, they should be kind to all people, they should be able to teach God's truth well, and they should be patient with people. BSB BSB: And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
25 UDB In other words, they should gently instruct the people who argue against them. Perhaps God may give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. BSB BSB: He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
26 UDB In that way they may think correctly and be like people who have escaped from a trap set by the devil. It is the devil who has deceived them in order to get them to do what he wants them to do. BSB BSB: Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.