Through the Bible – Day 278

₁₁Now his message is like a sealed letter to you. Some of you say, “We can't read it, because it's sealed.” ₁₂Others say, “We can't read it, because we don't know how to read.”

₁₃The Lord has said:

₁This is the LORD's message for his rebellious people:

₈The LORD told me to write down his message for his people, so that it would be there for ever. ₉They have turned against the LORD and can't be trusted. They have refused his teaching ₁₀and have said to his messengers and prophets:

₁₉People of Jerusalem, you don't need to cry any more. The Lord is kind, and as soon as he hears your cries for help, he will come. ₂₀The Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your food and drink. But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. ₂₁Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” ₂₂Then you will treat your idols of silver and gold like rubbish; you will throw them away like filthy rags.

₂₃The Lord will send rain to water the seeds you have planted—your fields will produce more crops than you need, and your cattle will graze in open pastures. ₂₄Even the oxen and donkeys that plough your fields will be fed the finest grain.

₂₅On that day people will be slaughtered and towers destroyed, but streams of water will flow from high hills and towering mountains. ₂₆Then the LORD will bandage his people's injuries and heal the wounds he has caused. The moon will shine as bright as the sun, and the sun will shine seven times brighter than usual. It will be like the light of seven days all at once.

₂₉The LORD's people will sing as they do when they celebrate a religious festival at night. The LORD is Israel's mighty rock, and his people will be as happy as they are when they follow the sound of flutes to the mountain where he is worshipped.

₃₀The LORD will get furious. His fearsome voice will be heard, his arm will be seen ready to strike, and his anger will be like a destructive fire, followed by thunderstorms and hailstones. ₃₁When the Assyrians hear the LORD's voice and see him striking with his iron rod, they will be terrified. ₃₂He will attack them in battle, and each time he strikes them, it will be to the music of tambourines and harps.

₃₃Long ago the LORD got a place ready for burning the body of the dead king. The place for the fire is deep and wide, the wood is piled high, and the LORD will start the fire by breathing out flaming sulphur.

₂₄I am glad that I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church. ₂₅God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you. ₂₆For many ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people. ₂₇God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.

₂₈We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all Christ's followers will grow and become mature. ₂₉That's why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.

₁I want you to know what a struggle I am going through for you, for God's people at Laodicea, and for all those followers who have never met me. ₂I do it to encourage them. Then as their hearts are joined together in love, they will be wonderfully blessed with complete understanding. And they will truly know Christ. Not only is he the key to God's mystery, ₃but all wisdom and knowledge are hidden away in him. ₄I tell you these things to keep you from being fooled by fancy talk. ₅Even though I am not with you, I keep thinking about you. I am glad to know that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

₆You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. ₇Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.

₈Don't let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ.

₉God lives fully in Christ. ₁₀And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. ₁₁Christ has also taken away your selfish desires, just as circumcision removes flesh from the body. ₁₂And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death. ₁₃You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.

₁₄God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. ₁₅There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

₁₆Don't let anyone tell you what you must eat or drink. Don't let them say that you must celebrate the New Moon festival, the Sabbath, or any other festival. ₁₇These things are only a shadow of what was to come. But Christ is real!

₁₈Don't be cheated by people who make a show of acting humble and who worship angels. They boast about seeing visions. But it is all nonsense, because their minds are filled with selfish desires. ₁₉They are no longer part of Christ, who is the head of the whole body. Christ gives the body its strength, and he uses its joints and muscles to hold it together, as it grows by the power of God.