December 5

John 15:9-17

[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. [10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. [11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command you. [15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. [17] These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Revelation 3:1-13

To the Church in Sardis

[1] “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  [2] Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. [3] Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. [4] Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. [5] The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. [6] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Philadelphia

[7] “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

[8] “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. [9] Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. [10] Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. [11] I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. [12] The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Job 28

Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom?

    [1] “Surely there is a mine for silver,

        and a place for gold that they refine. 

    [2] Iron is taken out of the earth,

        and copper is smelted from the ore. 

    [3] Man puts an end to darkness

        and searches out to the farthest limit

        the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 

    [4] He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives;

        they are forgotten by travelers;

        they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro. 

    [5] As for the earth, out of it comes bread,

        but underneath it is turned up as by fire. 

    [6] Its stones are the place of sapphires,

        and it has dust of gold.

    [7] “That path no bird of prey knows,

        and the falcon’s eye has not seen it. 

    [8] The proud beasts have not trodden it;

        the lion has not passed over it.

    [9] “Man puts his hand to the flinty rock

        and overturns mountains by the roots. 

    [10] He cuts out channels in the rocks,

        and his eye sees every precious thing. 

    [11] He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle,

        and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.

    [12] “But where shall wisdom be found?

        And where is the place of understanding? 

    [13] Man does not know its worth,

        and it is not found in the land of the living. 

    [14] The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’

        and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ 

    [15] It cannot be bought for gold,

        and silver cannot be weighed as its price. 

    [16] It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,

        in precious onyx or sapphire. 

    [17] Gold and glass cannot equal it,

        nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 

    [18] No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal;

        the price of wisdom is above pearls. 

    [19] The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,

        nor can it be valued in pure gold.

    [20] “From where, then, does wisdom come?

        And where is the place of understanding? 

    [21] It is hidden from the eyes of all living

        and concealed from the birds of the air. 

    [22] Abaddon and Death say,

        ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

    [23] “God understands the way to it,

        and he knows its place. 

    [24] For he looks to the ends of the earth

        and sees everything under the heavens. 

    [25] When he gave to the wind its weight

        and apportioned the waters by measure, 

    [26] when he made a decree for the rain

        and a way for the lightning of the thunder, 

    [27] then he saw it and declared it;

        he established it, and searched it out. 

    [28] And he said to man,

    ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

        and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Hosea 13

The LORD’s Relentless Judgment on Israel

    [1] When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;

        he was exalted in Israel,

        but he incurred guilt through Baal and died. 

    [2] And now they sin more and more,

        and make for themselves metal images,

    idols skillfully made of their silver,

        all of them the work of craftsmen.

    It is said of them,

        “Those who offer human sacrifice kiss calves!” 

    [3] Therefore they shall be like the morning mist

        or like the dew that goes early away,

    like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor

        or like smoke from a window.

    [4] But I am the LORD your God

        from the land of Egypt;

    you know no God but me,

        and besides me there is no savior. 

    [5] It was I who knew you in the wilderness,

        in the land of drought; 

    [6] but when they had grazed, they became full,

        they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;

        therefore they forgot me. 

    [7] So I am to them like a lion;

        like a leopard I will lurk beside the way. 

    [8] I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;

        I will tear open their breast,

    and there I will devour them like a lion,

        as a wild beast would rip them open.

    [9] He destroys you, O Israel,

        for you are against me, against your helper. 

    [10] Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities?

        Where are all your rulers—

    those of whom you said,

        “Give me a king and princes”? 

    [11] I gave you a king in my anger,

        and I took him away in my wrath.

    [12] The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

        his sin is kept in store. 

    [13] The pangs of childbirth come for him,

        but he is an unwise son,

    for at the right time he does not present himself

        at the opening of the womb.

    [14] I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol;

        I shall redeem them from Death.

    O Death, where are your plagues?

        O Sheol, where is your sting?

        Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

    [15] Though he may flourish among his brothers,

        the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come,

        rising from the wilderness,

    and his fountain shall dry up;

        his spring shall be parched;

    it shall strip his treasury

        of every precious thing. 

    [16]  Samaria shall bear her guilt,

        because she has rebelled against her God;

    they shall fall by the sword;

        their little ones shall be dashed in pieces,

        and their pregnant women ripped open.

Hosea 14

A Plea to Return to the LORD

    [1] Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,

        for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 

    [2] Take with you words

        and return to the LORD;

    say to him,

        “Take away all iniquity;

    accept what is good,

        and we will pay with bulls

        the vows of our lips. 

    [3] Assyria shall not save us;

        we will not ride on horses;

    and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’

        to the work of our hands.

    In you the orphan finds mercy.”

    [4] I will heal their apostasy;

        I will love them freely,

        for my anger has turned from them. 

    [5] I will be like the dew to Israel;

        he shall blossom like the lily;

        he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; 

    [6] his shoots shall spread out;

        his beauty shall be like the olive,

        and his fragrance like Lebanon. 

    [7] They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;

        they shall flourish like the grain;

    they shall blossom like the vine;

        their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

    [8] O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?

        It is I who answer and look after you.

    I am like an evergreen cypress;

        from me comes your fruit.

    [9] Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;

        whoever is discerning, let him know them;

    for the ways of the LORD are right,

        and the upright walk in them,

        but transgressors stumble in them.