29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; 31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
1 Cor 7:29-31


Imitators of God
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Children of Light
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14So it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 5:1-20


Love Fulfills the Law
(Leviticus 19:9-18)
8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. 9The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”a and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”b 10Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.


Put On Christ
11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.12The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.


The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Prov 10:27


Shining as Stars
(Matthew 5:13-16)
12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation,a in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.



Job 14

Job Laments the Finality of Death

1Man, who is born of woman,

is short of days and full of trouble.

2Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away;

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

3Do You open your eyes to one like this?

Will You bring him into judgment before You?

4Who can bring clean out of unclean?

No one!

5Since his days are determined

and the number of his months is with You,

and since You have set limits

that he cannot exceed,

6look away from him and let him rest,

so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

7For there is hope for a tree:

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its tender shoots will not fail.

8If its roots grow old in the ground

and its stump dies in the soil,

9at the scent of water it will bud

and put forth twigs like a sapling.

10But a man dies and is laid low;

he breathes his last, and where is he?

11As water disappears from the sea

and a river becomes parched and dry,

12so man lies down and does not rise.

Until the heavens are no more,

he will not be awakened

or roused from his sleep.

13If only You would hide me in Sheol

and conceal me until Your anger passes.

If only You would appoint a time for me

and then remember me.

14When a man dies, will he live again?

All the days of my hard service I will wait,

until my reliefa comes.

15You will call, and I will answer You;

You will desire the work of Your hands.

16For then You would count my steps,

but would not keep track of my sin.

17My transgression would be sealed in a bag,

and You would cover over my iniquity.

18But as a mountain erodes and crumbles

and a rock is dislodged from its place,

19as water wears away stones

and torrents wash away the soil,

so You destroy a man’s hope.

20You forever overpower him, and he passes on;

You change his countenance and send him away.

21If his sons receive honor, he does not know it;

if they are brought low, he is unaware.

22He feels only the pain of his own body

and mourns only for himself.”