Daily Pause

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  16  For in him (Christ) all things were

created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things

have been created through him and for him.  17  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18  And he is the

head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might

have the supremacy.  19  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 

Colossians 1

14  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, [f]  Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to

the faith we profess.  15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have

one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  16  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace

with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

29  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped

him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  31  A priest happened to be going down the same road,

and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  32  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him,

passed by on the other side.  33  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took

pity on him.  34  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own

donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  35  The next day he took out two denarii [e]  and gave them to the

innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:29-37

12  When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I

have done for you?” he asked them.  13  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  14  Now that I,

your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  15  I have set you an example that

you should do as I have done for you.  16  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger

greater than the one who sent him.  17  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:12-17

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the

Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2  The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray

Jesus.  3  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning

to God;  4  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  5  After that, he

poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around

him.

John 13:1-5

13  You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one

another humbly in love.  14  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  15  If

you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  17  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the

Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do

whatever you want.  22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,  23  gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:13-23