Thursday, November 9

9For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

14For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

1There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?

5I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'

6He also spoke this parable: 'A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'

8But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.' '