A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #41, April 1994 (Internet Edition) W I T H J E S U S V I S I O N ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective 1 - The Immoral Evangelist A loose woman takes the Gospel to the Samaritans Perspective 2 - Stones on the Ground A woman deserving death finds life at the hands of Jesus Perspective 3 - Never Too Late With one foot in hell, a thief finds heaven at the cross "This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." -John 15:12 NASB ----------------------------------------------------------------- I used to be crazy. (Not like I am now.) Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to accept the weaknesses in others that we can see? Quite a number of years back I had some surgery performed on my scalp-- three times. On three different occasions divots of flesh were excavated from the top of my cranium under local anesthesia, and three times I was left looking a bloody mess. Throughout this period I continued attending things such as choir practice, but to spare the stomachs of those sitting behind, I would wear a cap to cover the bandaged wound. As you might guess, there were many who wondered why Lampel was wearing a hat inside the church on a Wednesday night. So the announcement was made to the choir that I was saving them from the ugly result of surgery. Great measures of sympathy were then extended me by my companions. They expressed shock and regret that such an ordeal would befall me. Allowances were made for my handicap, and I was comforted. At another time, I began displaying the outward behavior of an emotional and mental problem.(1) The problem--for which I was under the care of a therapist--would cause me to avoid people, and to take curious--sometimes bizarre--steps to survive being around them when it was necessary. When I did attend choir practice, I could only do so by sitting in specific chairs, with certain "safe" people stationed on either side. Along with this, it was necessary for me to leave the premises immediately and quickly, once choir practice (or worship services, or whatever) was over. This problem was as real to me as the trauma of having surgery performed on my head, but generally the response from others was quite different.(2) Even when the reason for my behavior was explained to some people, they would still grow quickly impatient-- even angry--with me. I developed a reputation in the church body for being stuck-up, anti-social, conceited; people assumed I didn't like them because I would leave the church right away without speaking to them. They thought I didn't want to be around them, when the truth was that I simply couldn't. This time, my wound was on the inside. ____________________________ Oh, for the vision and heart of Jesus, who--in contrast with us--sees what is inside first, and very often ignores totally the outward appearance. Jesus accepts us with our turmoil and doubt. He accepts us with the darkness of our past and the lingering sins of our present. Jesus doesn't assume the worst when we behave strangely. He just loves us. Jesus lovingly nurtures the potential lying deep inside--a potential that others often choose to ignore. How often do we fail to see the potential in others by being side-tracked by their appearance or behavior? How easy is it to miss having a relationship with someone because they might have a darkly-stained past? Jesus accepts us with our past stains, and God the Father accepts us as kin because of our relationship with His Son. Neither of them see us as we were; they only see us as who we are now--and who we will be for eternity. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 1: T H E I M M O R A L E V A N G E L I S T ------------- Into the Word ------------- Now he had to go through Samaria. [5] So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. [7] When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) [10] Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." [11] "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" [13] Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." [15] The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." [16] He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." [17] "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. [18] The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." [19] "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. " [25] The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." [26] Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." [27] Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" [28] Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, [29] "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" [30] They came out of the town and made their way toward him. [39] Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. [41] And because of his words many more became believers. [42] They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." -John 4:4-7,9-19,25-30,39-42 This poor woman already had several strikes against her. First, she was a woman. At this time (approximately AD 26 or 27) it would have been considered bad manners for a man--and especially a rabbi--to have spoken to a woman in public without her husband present. Second, she was a Samaritan. The Jews considered the Samaritans to be "dogs" and would typically journey around Samaria to travel from Galilee to Jerusalem. A Jew would simply not speak to a Samaritan; it was not done. But Jesus not only purposely traveled through Samaria, He stopped in Sychar to rest and be refreshed from Jacob's well. Third, this woman was, to be kind, not of good character. She had not only had many husbands, but was now living with a man to whom she was not legally wed. I recall a documentary several years back that had as its subject the congregation and pastor of a small, fundamentalist church. Two scenes have remained with me. The first was the pastor meeting in a restaurant with the wife or girlfriend of a back-sliding parishioner. The pastor spent most of his energy berating the woman, blaming her evil ways for the man's condition. The second scene I remember was of several men from the church trying to "save" another man. Hour after hour they brutalized the man with Scripture, with re-tellings of his evil ways, and with every trick they could muster. Hour after hour the man tried to explain to them that he simply wasn't interested. But they continued, verbally beating the man into submission until finally, exhausted, he broke, and "accepted Christ." Nowhere in the Gospels do you see Jesus treating people in such a manner. Oh, He got angry from time to time, that's for sure. But whenever He met someone whose eternal soul was of interest to Him, Jesus always treated them with compassion and respect. Here was a woman who slept around. The Jews shunned her because she was a Samaritan; her own people shunned her because she was a shameless fornicator. Jesus had several reasons to avoid her all together, and no one would have thought the less of Him. But instead, the sinless One sat down and as much said, "Listen, I know about your past. I know who you are--and I love you anyway." The truly remarkable thing (remarkable in our eyes) is that He didn't stop there. Jesus was not just handing out forgiveness that day at Jacob's well. He was also handing out commissions. This Samaritan adulterer was given the responsibility to take the truth of Jesus Christ to her own people. Because of her, "many of the Samaritans believed in Him." Lives were saved for eternity because Jesus took a few moments out of His day to be kind to an outcast. But of course, through the eyes of Jesus, there is nothing remarkable about this at all--because He has done the very same thing for each of us. Knowing our past, knowing the vile things we've done, knowing the hidden recesses of our lives that have never been revealed to anyone else--Jesus showed us the same compassion and forgiveness. ____________________________ 'He told me all the things I have done . . .' "That is one of the prime methods Jesus uses to change us. He forces us to face the truth, the whole truth. She was changed! What a different woman! I want to address something . . . Jesus never once told her to leave that man. Her living with the man wasn't Jesus' primary concern. He didn't rebuke her because of her immoral life. She was an unsaved Samaritan. Unsaved people live like that. He didn't say to her, "Clean up your act, and then you're qualified to believe." He said, "I am Messiah. And I'll tell you all the things that you've done."Don't read people a long list of rules of spirituality en route to salvation. Let the Lord do that. You present to them the Savior. Our job isn't to clean up the fish bowl, certainly not initially. It's to fish--just fish."(3) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- My Jesus, I Love Thee My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus `tis now. I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus `tis now. I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus `tis now. In mansions of glory and endless delight, I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus `tis now.(4) ____________________________ Making it Personal ------------------ Set aside some private time. With no one else around, spend some time remembering things from your past--things that you would not want others to know--things that just might be scandalous if made public. Remember all those things you did before you knew Christ. While you're at it, make note (either mentally or on paper) of all those things you have done recently that might be scandalous if made public. Recall those things that--whether scandalous or no--if others knew, might diminish you in their sight. Does Jesus know about these things you've just remembered? Has He forgiven you for all these things? Has He accepted you into His family even with your history? Are you at work in His Kingdom? Has Jesus gone beyond forgiveness and acceptance in your life to actually commission you in His service? List those things you do in His name in spite of your past. Now spend some time praising Him and thanking the Lord for accepting you as you are. Into the Word ------------- Hebrews 11 is the classic "Roster of Faith." Here we see a catalogue of those who placed their trust in God. But Hebrews 11 is also a roster of flawed human beings. These are people who were used of God in spite of their failings. Divide a separate sheet into three columns. In the first column list all the names you find in the Eleventh chapter of Hebrews: from Abel through Samuel. Find each person's story in your Bible and in the second column note his or her mistakes, weaknesses or frailties. Then in the third column, note those things they did that warranted their inclusion in this "Roster of Faith." ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 2: S T O N E S O N T H E G R O U N D ------------- Into the Word ------------- Then each went to his own home. [1] But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2] At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [3] The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4] and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" [6] They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. [7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." [8] Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. [9] At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. [10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" [11] "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." -John 7:53-8:11 ____________________________ "I passed by a plot of land which some landowner had been enclosing, as those rascals always will filch every morsel of green grass. But I noticed that the enclosers had only fenced it in, but had not dug it up, not plowed it, nor planted it. And though they had cut down the gorse, it was coming up again. Of course it would, for it was still a meadow, and a bit of fence or rail could not alter it. The gorse would come peeping up, and before long the enclosure would be as wild as the heath outside.But this is not God's way of working. When God encloses a heart that has laid open to sin, does he cut down the thorns and the briars and then plant fir trees? No--he changes the soil so that from the ground itself, from its own vitality, the fir tree and the myrtle spontaneously start up. This is a most wonderful result. If a man remains at heart the same godless man, you can mend his habits, make him go to church, clothe him, keep him from alcohol, and teach him not to talk filthily, and then say, "He's now a respectable man." But if these outward respectabilities and rightnesses are only skin deep, you have done nothing. At least, what you have done is nothing to be proud of.But suppose this man can be so changed that just as freely as he was accustomed to curse he now delights to pray, and just as heartily as he hated religion he now finds pleasure in it, and just as earnestly as he sinned he now delights to be obedient to the Lord. This is a wonder, a miracle which man cannot accomplish, a marvel which only the grace of God can work and which gives God his highest glory."(5) ____________________________ When this passage of Scripture (John 7:53-8:11) is considered, the thoughts expressed usually deal with the evil scribes and Pharisees, and the grace of Jesus. But consider too: the woman's sin was real. She was caught in the act; even if baited by the authorities, she (and her companion, by the way) did commit a sin worthy--by God's law to the Jews--of death by stoning.(6) The reprehensible motives of the scribes and Pharisees do not diminish the clear fact that the woman had indeed sinned. We cheapen God's grace, and the blood of Christ, when we forget that it is real sin in our life that has been forgiven. Christ did not suffer and die for "almost-sin." He died for real, dark, despicable actions and thoughts--as well as our basic sin nature. Jesus took the woman as she was, as she was presented to Him in her public guilt. Nowhere does he argue the woman's case; nowhere does he argue that she really had not sinned. Quite to the contrary, he suggests that not only her, but everyone else was just as guilty. There was plenty of blame to go around. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.(7) Absolute sin requires absolute grace. Because there is nothing half-way about our sin, there is nothing half-way about God's forgiveness. He takes us as we are--complete in our sin(8)--without reservation, without condition save the one: Jesus Christ. So if God--with His utter purity and holiness--accepts us as we are, not expecting us to meet his standards before He will have a relationship with us, why is it we expect more from our brothers and sisters? Why is it we have conditional relationships with each other, when holy God requires less? Are we holier than God? Are we so perfect that we don't dare risk soiling that perfection with the imperfections of others? ____________________________ When conflicts arise--when some weakness in a brother or sister is becoming an obstacle to a healthy relationship--try this: Just love them. That's all. Don't deny their flaws; they are certainly as real as your own. But accept those flaws, and just love them as family in Christ. Trust me. It works. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how He chang'd my life completely-- He did something that no other friend could do. Refrain No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There's no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me-- O how much He cared for me! All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me, All my heart was full of misery and woe; Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me, And He led me in the way I ought to go. Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance, More and more I understand His words of love; But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till some day I see His blessed face above.(9) Making it Personal ------------------ Return to that private place you used earlier. This time spend some quiet moments thinking about the people around you: your friends, acquaintances; the people you worship with. Focus especially on those who are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Make a list--either in your head or on paper--of those people who trouble you. Is there anyone who causes churning inside whenever you're around them? Is there anyone who just flat-out makes you mad? Is there anyone to whom you feel even slightly superior? What is it about each person that causes you to feel this way? Is it their behavior, their personality? Is it something they've done to you in the past--something you've not been able to forget? Is it because they have less money than you? Or is it because they have more? Does Jesus love these people? Has He accepted them as they are? If Jesus has accepted them as they are, do you think you might too? On a separate sheet or the space below, if you have not already, make a list of the names of those people you have been thinking about. Now with each person, hold their image in your mind and pray for them. Thank God for them. And just love them. Into the Word ------------- A cursory reading of the Gospels--especially passages such as John 4 and John 8--leaves the impression that Jesus was very soft on sin. Do these passages mean that Jesus actually condoned their lifestyle? Find passages from the Gospels that answer this: How did Jesus really feel about sin in our lives? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 3: N E V E R T O O L A T E ------------- Into the Word ------------- When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [35] The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." [36] The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar [37] and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." [38] There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." [43] Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." -Luke 23:33-43 ____________________________ There are two things about the thief on the cross that have always fascinated me: what he did, and what he didn't. First, this man was a true low-life. He wasn't hanging from an instrument of crucifixion because he had got caught spitting on the sidewalk. He was not being punished for kicking the neighbor's dog. Crucifixion was a capital punishment reserved for only the worst crimes committed by the worst types.(10) Originally this type of death was reserved for slaves--property, non-people--but it eventually included the lowest criminals from any class. Even then, however, it was not used for Roman citizens; this was a death considered too hideous for even the lowliest citizen of Rome. The Jews considered death by crucifixion to be shameful. Only the accursed of God would suffer such humiliation. If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, [23] you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."(11) So, while we don't know his particular crime, it's safe to say that this man did something more than just snatch someone's purse. He was the worst type of criminal, the scum of the earth. But even more than what he did as a criminal, I am fascinated by what he didn't as a believer. Here was someone whose walk with Christ was compressed into, at best, a matter of hours. Within a very short time he passed from criminal and condemned sinner to redeemed believer to inhabitant of heaven. What things were not accomplished during that brief span? - walking the center aisle, baptism, new member's class - right-hand of fellowship, communion, tithing - returning those things he had stolen from others - apologies to those he had wronged - a good bath, haircut, and new clothes - a church letter and position on a committee With simple beauty the criminal confessed that he was a sinner deserving death, and that Jesus was a sinless king who had the power to save him from that death. ____________________________ We are surrounded by brothers and sisters who have met the requirements of God's grace, but not ours. God, through Christ, has opened his arms to them, saying, "Come to me with all those dark things of your past; come to me with all your fragility and weakness and ignorance. I welcome the chance to love you." Then how can we require more? Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.(12) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- Blest Be the Tie Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Before our Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.(13) Making it Personal ------------------ What is your response (deep inside; your real response) when someone comes into the worship service who is dressed in a manner you would consider inappropriate? Let's say he or she is a street person, or someone just down on their luck. Let's say their clothing is in shabby condition or maybe they even need a good bath. What is your first, honest response? Would you rather they weren't there? Would you like to get them cleaned up properly for church? If they smell badly, would you like to sit beside them and share your hymnal? Would you invite them home for Sunday dinner? What did you have to do for Jesus to accept you? Was it necessary for you to right all the wrongs of your past? Were you presented with a list of all your past sins, and an expectation that you would personally atone for each one? What do people have to do before you will accept them as they are? Into the Word ------------- Here's an ambitious project. It will be time-consuming, but--I promise--an eye-opening experience. Be diligent and thorough and the results will be well worth the time--and maybe even life-changing. Begin compiling a list of things that are expected of people in your church body for them to be "accepted." You might begin your list with the obvious: they must confess Christ as Lord. That's a solid beginning, but there's much more. Notice I didn't say to list those things that are required for them to be official members of the congregation. That is where you begin, of course. But the point of the project is to be brutally honest with yourself and about the people with whom you worship. What are the accepted standards of your church? Standards of dress, behavior (what would happen if someone wore their swimsuit to church on a hot August day?). How should people behave to feel welcome in your church? What are the standards of giving and stewardship of time and belongings? What if someone has never been baptized, never taken communion--and doesn't want to. Could they be members? Would they be welcome? Now for the important part of the project. Once you've compiled your list (or even while you're doing it) take each thing you've listed and back up its use with Scripture. Use God's word to verify the validity of each of these standards of acceptance. What will you do about those items that can not be substantiated with Scripture? A Final Thought --------------- Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.(14) ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 This problem (for those who read the endnotes in Aspects) was--and still is--called agoraphobia, literally a "fear of the marketplace" (after the Greek agora). This phobia was (and still is, to a lesser degree) manifested in me in a general feeling of discomfort, and sometimes outright panic, when in a crowd of people. It causes me to avoid all together certain things such as dinners or banquets, fellowships and parties, or any situation in which there will be people milling about. 2 There are certain persons reading this who were sympathetic, and who tried to be patient even when they didn't understand. To this day I thank God for them and the many ways they made life more bearable during this period. 3 Charles R. Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian Life (Multnomah Press, 1986), p161f. 4 Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879. 5 Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon (Shaw, 1990), p.86. 6 If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel. [23] If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, [24] you shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death--the girl because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man's wife. You must purge the evil from among you. -Deut 22:22-24 7 Romans 8:1-2, 8 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. -Eph 2:4-5 9 Charles F. Weigle. 10 See November 1992 Aspects, Standing Before the Tree, for a more detailed history and use of crucifixion in general. 11 Deut 21:22-23; Gal 3:13. 12 Matthew 5:7; 6:14-15. 13 John Fawcett (1740-1817). 14 Romans 12:9-17. Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. 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