Day 81: Hebrews 12 - James 2

New Testament in 90 days reading for day 81.

Hebrews 12

10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
13 Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
16 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;
19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.
20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
26 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”
27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 13

1 Continue in brotherly love.
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
3 Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
6 So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.
12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.
13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.
14 For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
16 And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
19 And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.
23 Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.
25 Grace be with all of you.

James 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
10 But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 2

1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
3 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

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