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Revelation 1:9-18 "Then he placed his right hand on me and said, 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last' " Revelation 1:17. Apostle John was exiled in the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel. There, he heard "a loud voice like a trumpet ". This was followed by a vision of the Lord, and John "fell at his feet as though dead. " But in that frightening moment, he received comfort and courage. John wrote, "He placed his right hand on me and said, 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last'. " God takes us out of our comfort zone to show us new things, to stretch us, to help us grow. He also brings the courage and comfort to go through every situation.

John 14:15-21 "If you love me, keep my commands. " John 14:15. Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commands ". He also said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and will be with you forever--the Spirit of truth ". It is by the work of the Spirit, who is with us and in us that we can learn to obey Jesus and keep His commands.

Colossians 3:12-17 "Whatever you do,... do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him ". Colossians 3:17. Paul says "be thankful ", and sing to God "with gratitude in your hearts ". Paul's instruction to be thankful in all circumstances is marvellous, when we consider that he wrote these from a prison cell.

John 14:16-17 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. " John 14:27. Jesus promised this to the followers after the "last supper. " He reminded them that although they would face trouble in this world, the Father would send the Spirit of truth to live with them, and be in them. Although as God's children, we face hardships in the world, we're comforted that the Holy Spirit lives within us and flowing out of us.

Acts 9:1-22 "At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. " Acts 9:20. Once Paul was one of the most feared persecutors of the church, until his encounter with Christ. His drastic transformation added to the credibility of his Spirit empowered teaching. Our first personal encounter with Jesus may not be as dramatic as Paul's, but Christ's love is changing us over time.

1 Peter 2:1-10 "You are a chosen people , a royal priesthood, a holy nation... that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. " 1 Peter 2:9 This is not an image of a privileged few, but of "every tribe and language and people and nation. " Today, we're scattered across the globe, where many feel isolated and suffer for their allegiance to Jesus. But through the lens of God's Word we see a wider angle of our brothers and sisters in faith standing together to honour the One who redeemed us and made us His own.

Galatians 4:1-7 "...God sent his Son... that we might receive adoption to sonship. " Galatians 4:4-5. Paul says that everyone who puts their faith in Jesus, whether man or woman, becomes a "son" of God with equal and full rights of inheritance. We are not merely blessed by God, we're the children of God, and our Father loves us.