Friday, December 19

15To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

16They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

2that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;

3the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—

4that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

5to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

6Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,

7in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

8sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

9Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,

10not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

33The Way of Discipleship Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, 'What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?'

34But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

35And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, 'If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'

36Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,

37'Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.'

38Now John answered Him, saying, 'Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.'

39But Jesus said, 'Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

40For he who is not against us is on our side.

41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.