The Daily Practice

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a]

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,

“All people are like grass,     and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c]

And this is the word that was preached to you.

12 “You stretch out your right hand,     and the earth swallows your enemies. 13 In your unfailing love you will lead     the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them     to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble;     anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,     the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people[a] of Canaan will melt away; 16     terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm     they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, Lord,     until the people you bought[b] pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them     on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,     the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns     for ever and ever.”

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[c] went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:

“Sing to the Lord,     for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver     he has hurled into the sea.”

1 Praise awaits[b] you, our God, in Zion;     to you our vows will be fulfilled. 2 You who answer prayer,     to you all people will come. 3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,     you forgave[c] our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose     and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house,     of your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,     God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth     and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power,     having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,     the roaring of their waves,     and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;     where morning dawns, where evening fades,     you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;     you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water     to provide the people with grain,     for so you have ordained it.[d] 10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;     you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 11 You crown the year with your bounty,     and your carts overflow with abundance. 12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;     the hills are clothed with gladness. 13 The meadows are covered with flocks     and the valleys are mantled with grain;     they shout for joy and sing.

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord,     for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver     he has hurled into the sea.

2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];     he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him,     my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior;     the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army     he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers     are drowned in the Red Sea.[b] 5 The deep waters have covered them;     they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, Lord,     was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord,     shattered the enemy.

7 “In the greatness of your majesty     you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger;     it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils     the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall;     the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy boasted,     ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils;     I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword     and my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But you blew with your breath,     and the sea covered them. They sank like lead     in the mighty waters. 11 Who among the gods     is like you, Lord? Who is like you—     majestic in holiness, awesome in glory,     working wonders?

1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;     protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,     from the plots of evildoers. 3 They sharpen their tongues like swords     and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. 4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;     they shoot suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans,     they talk about hiding their snares;     they say, “Who will see it[b]?” 6 They plot injustice and say,     “We have devised a perfect plan!”     Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;     they will suddenly be struck down. 8 He will turn their own tongues against them     and bring them to ruin;     all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. 9 All people will fear;     they will proclaim the works of God     and ponder what he has done.

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord     and take refuge in him;     all the upright in heart will glory in him!

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.