October 4: Song of Solomon 8:6–7; John 15:13; Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 1:5; 1 Chronicles 27:25–27; 1 Chronicles 27:31; 1 Corinthians 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Peter 4:10–11 - a podcast by Crossway

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it…. Love is strong as death.—“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.—In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.—You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.—I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Song of Solomon 8:6–7 (Listen)

6   Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm,
  for love is strong as death,
    jealousy¹ is fierce as the grave.²
  Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    the very flame of the LORD.
7   Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
  If a man offered for love
    all the wealth of his house,
    he³ would be utterly despised.

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John 15:13 (Listen)

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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Romans 12:1 (Listen)

A Living Sacrifice

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,¹ by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.²

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1 Corinthians 6:11 (Listen)

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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Ephesians 1:7 (Listen)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

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1 Peter 2:9 (Listen)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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1 Peter 2:24 (Listen)

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

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Revelation 1:5 (Listen)

5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

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There are varieties of service, but the same Lord.

Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries… was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite…. All these were stewards of King David's property.

God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues…. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.

1 Chronicles 27:25–27 (Listen)

25 Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.

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1 Chronicles 27:31 (Listen)

31 All these were stewards of King David’s property.

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1 Corinthians 12:5 (Listen)

5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

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1 Corinthians 12:11 (Listen)

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

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1 Corinthians 12:28 (Listen)

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

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1 Peter 4:10–11 (Listen)

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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