Keep your heart with the utmost care, for out of these are the issues of life.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your mind, and with all your soul, and all your strength.

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this: that if One died for all, then all died;

and He died for all, so that they who live should live no longer for themselves, but for the [One] who died for them and rose again.

and not as we hoped, but they first gave their own selves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; being rooted and founded in love,

Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].

Turn not aside to the right hand, nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way: [ 4:27A] for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked: [ 4:27B] and He will make your ways straight, and will guide your steps in peace.

Who is wise, and will observe these things, and understand the mercies of the Lord?

Blessed are they that search out His testimonies; they will diligently seek Him with the whole heart.

How shall a young man direct his way? By keeping Your words.

I have hidden Your oracles in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Who is wise, and will understand these things? Or prudent, and will know them? For the ways of the Lord are straight, and the righteous shall walk in them; but the ungodly shall fall therein.

And we have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed, as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;