"And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Romans 8:23–25, ESV). "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus . . .

"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white . . .

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No . . .

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son . . .

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven     and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout,     giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;     it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,     and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10–11, ESV). "From of old no one has heard     or perceived . . .

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through . . .

"Listen to me, O house of Jacob,     all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth,     carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he,     and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear;     I will carry and will save. … Remember this and stand firm,     recall it to mind, you transgressors,     remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there . . .

"Your word is a lamp to my feet     and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, ESV). "O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;     my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things     too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul,     like a weaned child with its mother;     like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD     from . . .