Sunday 24 February 2013

5The Lord brought him outside,and said, “Look now toward the sky,and count the stars,if you are able to count them.”He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”6He believed in the Lord,who credited it to him for righteousness.7He said to Abram, “I am the Lordwho brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees,to give you this land to inherit it.”

8He said, “Lord GOD,how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old,a female goat three years old,a ram three years old,a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”10He brought him all these,and divided them in the middle,and laid each half opposite the other;but he didn’t divide the birds.11The birds of prey came down on the carcasses,and Abram drove them away.

12When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram.Now terror and great darkness fell on him.· · · verses 13–16 are not read17It came to pass that,when the sun went down,and it was dark, behold,a smoking furnaceand a flaming torch passed between these pieces.18In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram,saying, “I have given this land to your offspring,from the river of Egypt to the great river,the river Euphrates:

1The Lord is my light and my salvation.Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life.Of whom shall I be afraid?

7Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice.Have mercy also on me, and answer me.8When you said, “Seek my face,”my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Lord.”

9Don’t hide your face from me.Don’t put your servant away in anger.You have been my help.Don’t abandon me,neither forsake me, God of my salvation.

13I am still confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.14Wait for the Lord.Be strong, and let your heart take courage.Yes, wait for the Lord.

17Brothers, be imitators together of me,and note those who walk this way,even as you have us for an example.18For many walk, of whom I told you often,and now tell you even weeping,as the enemies of the cross of Christ,19whose end is destruction,whose god is the belly,and whose glory is in their shame,who think about earthly things.20For our citizenship is in heaven,from where we also wait for a Savior,the Lord Jesus Christ,21who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory,according to the working bywhich he is able even to subject all things to himself.

1Therefore, my brothers,beloved and longed for,my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

28About eight days after these sayings,he took with him Peter,John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.29As he was praying,the appearance of his face was altered,and his clothing became white and dazzling.30Behold, two men were talking with him,who were Moses and Elijah,31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32Now Peter and thosewho were with him were heavy with sleep,but when they were fully awake,they saw his glory,and the two men who stood with him.33As they were parting from him,Peter said to Jesus,“Master, it is good for us to be here.Let’s make three tents:one for you, one for Moses,and one for Elijah,”not knowing what he said.

34While he said these things,a cloud came and overshadowed them,and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.35A voice came out of the cloud,saying, “This is my beloved Son.Listen to him!”36When the voice came, Jesus was found alone.They were silent,and told no one in those days any of the thingswhich they had seen.