No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. — Isaiah 60:18

You'll call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The New Jerusalem has twelve foundations named after the apostles, and we're being built together as a dwelling place for God. Every believer is a living stone being built into a spiritual house. The walls aren't our achievement — they're God's salvation. And the gates exist for praise — praise fits those who dwell in Zion.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. — John 15:15

Jesus calls us friends, not servants. A servant doesn't know his master's business, but Christ has revealed everything to us. The Lord shared His plans with Abraham, gave the disciples the secrets of the kingdom, and the Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them to us. We who were once far off have been brought near and admitted into the friendship of God. True friends of Christ are those who do what He commands — not earning friendship, but displaying it.

When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. — Matthew 14:14

Jesus was moved with compassion. He doesn't change — the same yesterday, today, and forever. He can sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. He deals gently with the ignorant and wayward. Even when the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, He understands.

When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you. — Deuteronomy 8:10

When you've eaten and are full, bless the Lord for the good land He's given you. But here's the warning: fullness can make you forget. Only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks. Everything God created is good and received with thanksgiving. It's not the bread that makes you wealthy; it's God's blessing that adds no sorrow.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.” — Revelation 22:16

Jesus is the bright and morning Star — the light that appears just before dawn. Balaam's prophecy pointed to a Star rising from Jacob, and now the night is nearly over, the day is almost here. The shadows flee when the Bridegroom appears. Watchmen call out that the morning is coming. While we have the Light, walk in the Light.

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. — 1 Timothy 1:14

Paul says the grace of our Lord overflowed for him with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Grace isn't a small trickle — it's an abundant flood. Christ became poor so we could become rich. Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. We're saved by grace through faith, not by works.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. — 2 Corinthians 5:10

We all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. That's sobering — God's judgment is righteous and inescapable. The Son of Man will separate the sheep from the goats, and the righteous will shine like the sun. But for those in Christ, there's no condemnation. God's elect are justified by Christ who died and rose again.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. — John 10:10

Jesus said'I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly'. That's a direct reversal of Eden, where Adam brought death. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ. By one man's disobedience death reigned; by one Man's obedience many are made righteous. Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded. — Psalm 69:26

It's a painful thing when people add to the grief of those God has already wounded. We're called to something better. Bear one another's burdens, restore those caught in sin gently, and comfort the fainthearted. Love doesn't rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Don't judge each other; instead, bear with the weak and watch yourselves lest you also fall.

But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ — Deuteronomy 17:16

Israel was told they'd never go back to Egypt that way again. The same applies to us spiritually: once you've been delivered from the domain of darkness, don't go back. The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 desired a better country and wouldn't return to what they'd left. Anyone who draws back doesn't please God. No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom.