Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains.

Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The Judge is near, ready to appear.

We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job's patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

Those who claim to be respectable are more and more convinced they are right.

Be patient and wait for the LORD to act; don't be worried about those who prosper or those who succeed in their evil plans.

I waited patiently for the LORD's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.

Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.

Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.

So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.

All of us often make mistakes. But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and is also able to control his whole being.

Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.

You must be perfect---just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.

Yet I do proclaim a message of wisdom to those who are spiritually mature. But it is not the wisdom that belongs to this world or to the powers that rule this world---powers that are losing their power.

I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself.

So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will.

so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

(SEE 13:20)

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.

Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgment Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's.

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.

"I have obeyed all these commandments," the young man replied. "What else do I need to do?"

Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."

But if you do not have them, you are so shortsighted that you cannot see and have forgotten that you have been purified from your past sins.