Morning
The Lord is at hand.
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. § He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. § Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Phil. 4:5; 1 Thess. 4:16–18; Rev. 22:20; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 Thess. 5:22–24; James 5:8
Evening
The choice vine.
Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: my Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes. § Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness … envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit … Abide in Me, and I in you … By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Gen. 49:11; Isa. 5:1–2; Jer. 2:21; Gal. 5:19, 21–23; John 15:1–2, 4, 8
