"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 . . .

" Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;     bind them around your neck;     write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success     in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart,     and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,     and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes;     fear . . .

"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you" (1 Peter 1:22–25, ESV). "I do not ask . . .

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:15–16, ESV). "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down . . .