May 31: Isaiah 60:19; Matthew 7:13–14; Matthew 11:12; John 6:27; 1 Corinthians 9:24–25; Hebrews 4:10–11; 2 Peter 1:10–11; Luke 22:42; John 11:41–42; John 12:28; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:7; Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 5:14 - a podcast by Crossway

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction…. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”—“The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”—“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.”—Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure…. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.—The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

Isaiah 60:19 (Listen)

19   The sun shall be no more
    your light by day,
  nor for brightness shall the moon
    give you light;¹
  but the LORD will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.²

(ESV)

Matthew 7:13–14 (Listen)

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy¹ that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

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Matthew 11:12 (Listen)

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,¹ and the violent take it by force.

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John 6:27 (Listen)

27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

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1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (Listen)

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

(ESV)

Hebrews 4:10–11 (Listen)

10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

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2 Peter 1:10–11 (Listen)

10 Therefore, brothers,¹ be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(ESV)

“You always hear me.”

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”—“Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”—“Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.”—“Not my will, but yours, be done.”

As he is so also are we in this world.—And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

He always lives to make intercession for them.—We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Luke 22:42 (Listen)

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

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John 11:41–42 (Listen)

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

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John 12:28 (Listen)

28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

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Hebrews 7:25 (Listen)

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost¹ those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

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Hebrews 10:7 (Listen)

7   Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
    as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

(ESV)

Hebrews 11:6 (Listen)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

(ESV)

1 John 2:1 (Listen)

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

(ESV)

1 John 3:22 (Listen)

22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

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1 John 4:17 (Listen)

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

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1 John 5:14 (Listen)

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

(ESV)