TRUST AND OBEY
ECCLESIASTES 12:13 (CEV)
Everything you were taught can be put into a few words:
Respect and obey God!
This is what life
is all about.
ACTS 10:34-35 (MSG)
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."
SUMMARY SENTENCE
No matter who you are, relating to God is about doing what he asks.
PRAYER
Great God, you are worthy of all respect, honor, and obedience. I'm grateful that you reach out to us -- even though we are unworthy. Forgive me for reducing your expectations down to what I want to do. I'm so good at reframing life that way. Inspire me to keep you and your directions as the focal point of my life. I'm going to invite others to accept your hospitality. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
