Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Iron 15
15
THE STRONG AND THE WEAK
1So we who are strong in our spiritual ways should be willing to lend a shoulder to the ones who are weak and unable to walk this road with firm steps. For this road is not only for our own good, 2but also for the good of all who walk with us. 3When the Chosen One walked this earth, he came not only to please himself but to help others.
The Sacred Teachings say, “The insults they spoke against you have landed on me.”#15:3 Psalm 69:9
4These words were written down long ago so we would learn from them. It is from the Sacred Teachings that we find the hope and strength we need to walk this road of life. 5I pray that the Great Spirit who walks beside you, keeping your steps firm, will help you walk together in step with Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. 6In this way you will speak with one voice, giving honor to the Great Spirit, the Father of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) our Honored Chief, who is the Chosen One.
THE OUTSIDE NATIONS ARE SACRED FAMILY
7So welcome each other with open arms in the same way the Chosen One has honored the Great Spirit by welcoming you. 8This is what I am saying: the Chosen One came as a servant to our Tribal People, to show that the Great Spirit has kept the promises he made to our ancestors. 9He also came to show his kindness and mercy to the Outside Nations so they would also give honor to the Great Spirit.
For the Sacred Teachings say, “I will tell the truth about you to all the Nations, I will sing songs to them to honor your name.”#15:9 Psalm 18:49
10They also say, “Dance for joy, all you Nations, along with his people.”#15:10 Deuteronomy 32:43
11And again, “Give praise to the Great Spirit, all you Outside Nations. Let all people honor him!”#15:11 Psalm 117:1
12And again the prophet Creator Helps Us (Isaiah) says, “The one who is the root of Original Man (Jesse) will rise up to rule over the Outside Nations, and they will put their hope and trust in him.”#15:12 Isaiah 11:10
A PRAYER FOR THE OUTSIDE NATIONS
13My prayer for the Outside Nations is that the Great Spirit, who gives you this hope, will fill you with the joy and peace that comes from trusting him, so that this hope will flow like a river through your lives by the power of his Holy Spirit.
14My sacred family members, I can see that goodness and wisdom have already found a home in you. You have become wise teachers able to instruct each other in the ways of the Great Spirit.
15-16Even though this is true, I have used strong words to remind you about these things. I have spoken boldly because, in his great kindness, the Great Spirit has chosen me to be a holy man in the way of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. He has called me to perform the sacred task of telling Creator’s good story. In this way I can present the Outside Nations as a sweet-smelling smoke offering, pleasing to him and set apart in a sacred manner by the Holy Spirit.
SMALL MAN’S SERVICE TO THE OUTSIDE NATIONS
17The Chosen One Creator Sets Free (Jesus) has given me reason to brag about my work among you Outside Nations, but only to bring honor to Great Spirit. 18For I can only speak about what the Chosen One has done through me. He used my words and what I have done to bring the Outside Nations into step with Creator’s plan for them. 19It was through signs and wonders, done by the power of Creator’s Spirit, that I was able to finish the work of telling them the good story about the Chosen One. I traveled from Village of Peace (Jerusalem) all the way around to Land of Outside Nations (Illyricum).
20It has been my aim to tell this good story to people who have never heard about the Chosen One. In this way I am not trying to build on the work that someone else has already started. 21For the Sacred Teachings say, “The Ones who have not been told about him will see, and the ones who have never heard will understand.”#15:21 Isaiah 52:15
SMALL MAN’S DESIRE TO VISIT VILLAGE OF IRON
22This is the reason it has taken me so long to come to Village of Iron (Rome) to see you face to face. 23It has been my desire for many winters to do so, and now that I have finished my work here, it is my plan to see you 24on my journey to Setting Sun (Spain). I hope to stay with you for a while, for some good food and talk, and then have you sing a traveling song over me and send me on my way.
25But for now I am on my way to the sacred family members#15:25 Lit. holy ones who live in Village of Peace (Jerusalem) to bring some much-needed help to the ones who live there. 26For the sacred family members from Land of Tall People (Macedonia) and Land of Sorrow (Achaia) are happy to give of their goods to help the poor among our sacred family members in Village of Peace (Jerusalem). 27For since the Outside Nations have shared in the spiritual blessings of our Tribal People, they are bound by honor to also share their material blessings with them—which they do with glad hearts!
28Once I have brought to them this offering and delivered it safely to them, then I will visit you who live in Village of Iron (Rome) on my way to Setting Sun (Spain). 29And I know that when I come to you, I will bring with me a heart-basket full of the blessings of the Chosen One!
WRESTLE WITH ME IN YOUR PRAYERS
30My sacred family members, I now call on you by the power of our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, and by the love of the Spirit, to wrestle with me in prayer when you send your voice to the Great Spirit. 31Pray that he will be a shield to protect me from the ones in the Land of Promise (Judea) who have refused to believe our message. Also pray for the sacred family members in Village of Peace (Jerusalem), that they will have open hearts to receive what I bring to them.
32Then, with the help of your prayers, and by the will of the Great Spirit, I will come to Village of Iron (Rome). Then with a glad heart I will be refreshed as we sit together with good food and much talk!
33I pray that the Great Spirit of Peace will be close to all of you. Aho! May it be so!
Currently Selected:
Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Iron 15: FNVNT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright ©2023 InterVarsity Press