Next Steps in Following Jesus: Scripture, Part 1

About one third of American adults were told report reading the Bible once a week or more, only 24% of millennial's claim to do so and the barn and is pulling reports that with each passing year, the percentage of Americans who believe that the Bible is quote just another book written by man" increases Kenneth Briggs a form of religion editor of the New York Times says in his recent book the invisible bestseller, searching for the Bible in America. He says that in this study is find out something that many of us already know that Americans are not reading the Bible very much is not because we don't have Bibles is just that were not reading them very much and that is true. Sadly, even in churches is why at Calvary. We encourage her to bring a Bible we Bible and the peers of Jill have a Bible, we teach the Bible to her children. We encourage our children to memorize a Bible out adult -like groups are focused on the Bible. A large part of our worship service is devoted to the preaching and teaching of the Bible are theme verse is for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ coming from Revelation 1 my own calling by God is to preach the word. As Paul says to Timothy in second Timothy four verse two, but this is not just a matter of my personal calling holy Scripture is central and foundational as we seek to follow Jesus Christ.

So in the series like steps in following Jesus are subject this morning is Scripture and were going to continue that. Lord willing. Next Sunday we stand and read with me some of what God says about his word.

Various verses from Scripture read with me forever.

All Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Psalm 119 verse 89 for you have exalted above all things, your name and your word.

Psalm 138 verse two, but this is the one to whom I will look he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66 verse two it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew four verse four. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God abides forever. Isaiah 40 verse needs. Please be seated.

I understand the Bible is sometimes difficult to understand that I'm going to address that next week but if you love someone, you try to understand what they're saying, even if that is difficult when I first met my wife. She didn't know much English and when she returned to the federal islands and I was in Scotland we would write these shows are old. We were email had never even been thought of. No cell phones, and so we wrote and I write very quickly my writings not very good.

My wife is tremendous good has tremendous neat handwriting which I find it very difficult to write in English. Later she told me that you have an English dictionary. She had a fairly's dictionary of Fairways being her first native-language chair, the Danish dictionary Danish being her second language and she was trying to write and communicate to me in English. I like to think I have regard to the love of the English language in regard to syntax and grammar and punctuation and all of that. But as I read these letters that came to me sometimes that they were difficult to understand her choice of a word or syntax or glamour was certainly not what I learned in school, but I really didn't worry about that. I wanted to know what was she actually saying and so I would read and I would really do not put the letter down and at another point I would take it again.

Why because I was falling in love with this young woman and I wanted to know what she was saying to love Jesus. Would you want to know what he saying to you say sometimes the Bible is hard much of the Bible is not that difficult. And this, I guarantee the more you read the Bible, the more you need the word of God, the more you will want to the last. She read the Bible, the less you will want to and my goal this morning is to tell you something about the character of the Bible and the impact of holy Scripture, so that you will read it more so that this powerful eternal word of God will transform your life in the next week will think of how we can read and study the Bible with more understanding with think first of all, of the truth of the Bible attend with me if you have your Bible towards the end of the New Testament to second Timothy chapter 3, second Timothy chapter 3 and were going to read.

First of all, in verse 16.

This letter second Timothy is Paul's last letter is about to die in the 40s before he dies, he is given some wonderful teaching to this young man Timothy second Timothy three verse 16. Paul writes all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in the righteousness verse 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work God's word is truth. Jesus what he was praying to his heavenly father. In John chapter 17 says in verse 17 to his heavenly father your word is truth. What a strong statement not just that it's true. His family not just saying it contains truth. It is a stronger statement in that he saying your word is truth, and Paul is saying the same thing another way, he saying all Scripture is inspired by God. All Scripture is God breathed as God, who cannot lie is a God who speaks a God who communicates in his grace to us. How does he speak to us through the process of what we call inspiration for the God who cannot lie, has spoken has spoken in his word, so that what we have in the Bible in written form are the very words of God for this book, the Bible is the word of God contains God's eternal truths. So when the Bible speaks God is speaking to believe that want to know what God says it was a well submitted.

God didn't tell us God has told us when the Bible speaks God is speaking on God's word is truth in our culture. Increasingly, the lines between truth and error between truth and lies are becoming increasingly blurred. The economist in their September 10 16 addition passes their cover art of the lie post truth politics in the age of social media, not economist is not a Christian magazine is very secular but very influential and it had to.

This article is very important and are documented to you the art of the line, post truth, politics, and age of social media and the article says that politicians have always lied and would disagree with her saying all politicians lie all the time but politician, the article says of always lied and then it asks does it matter if they leave the truth behind entirely goes on to say in the age of social media, quote lies, rumor and gossip spread with alarming speed lines that are widely shared online within the network whose members trust each other more than they trust. Any mainstream media source: quick can quickly take on the appearance of truth. Presented with evidence that contradicts our belief that is nearly held. People have a tendency to ditch the facts first is that in the article ends by saying that quote post.

Truth politics will be with us for some time to come.

The art of the line know whatever you think of the present presidential campaigns by the two main candidates. One thing we know is whether you're a Republican or Democrat, or an independent or don't care about any of them. One thing seems very clear is is difficult to know what the truth is, is difficult to know what do they actually believe. Cannot believe what this person is saying in this article economist to say, not just in the United States, but increasingly throughout the world.

We have the art of the lie. Who can we believe, what do you base your life in what do you believe base your beliefs on faced with changes in morals and ethics in our society, our culture I think is one of two things. First of all, it redefines the basis of morality. No longer do we have objective standards. No longer do we as a culture believe in objective truth. It is all a matter of personal preferences. Make your own truth. I'm okay you're okay you don't bother me. I won't bother you. You don't judge me. I'm certainly not going to judge you. And so we redefine which rights we redefine what's wrong. Secondly, we tried to redefine the character of God know how arrogance and how absurd is that but we want to redefine God so that we have a God who is more palatable to God was more amenable to our way of thinking, a God who is going to accept the way I live. Whatever it is, my lifestyle. So often we hear someone say, my God accepts my lifestyle or my God would never send anyone to hell, or in other words, God is who I see here is or will be what I want him to be. What kind of God that the God that we make, as if reality depends on what I think what I'm comfortable with. But this is where our society has gone the rest of the true God is not the living God is not a God who in the beginning, created the heavens and the assembly, not the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly not the God of the Bible truth is going to the window. The art of the lie has swept into our society. Can I say even assaults the church are you surprised if you know your Bible, you really shouldn't be too surprised because the first recorded words in Scripture by our enemy are the devil says the did God actually say that is Genesis 3 Iron Maiden per month, then God actually say that we are there today don't with were going to be talking tonight tonight about the LGBT issue did God actually say that's I don't think so LOL and let's think again was be on the right side of history. I let's go with the times.

God didn't actually say that dictate well actual fact he did in the beginning God created the heavens announcement.

He made us in his own image, male and female he made them how to clear could it mean now you can reject God and say you don't believe in God the Word of God is very, very clear, but our enemy is always saying that the God actually say that is not interesting that when the Lord was tempted by the enemy in Matthew chapter 4 is the enemy attacked and you know what he said it is written, for it is written, he goes back to the eternal Word of God. Yes, you're trying to distort truth you're trying to redefine truth you're trying to conjure up a different kind of God you're trying to say that what the Bible says God didn't actually say that God did mean that these were writing in primitive times and we were so much more educated we know so much more. That's always the enemy's attack of the enemy does all he can to throw doubts in her mind as to the accuracy, the trustworthiness and the reliability of holy Scripture. No book has been so attacked, so vilified so ridiculed as the Bible. That is why you and maybe you think a Calvary church. We overdo it.

I don't know but we don't make any apology for it.

I certainly don't that we make a huge issue of the word of God. If we no longer accept the Bible as our authority, anything goes.

I go home and if I could get a job practicing law. Again, the subfiles incited by pack my bags.

I go home. If this book is not the word of God.

Why would I devote myself to work that is full of errors, there is no outdated in the God is no longer speaking God's Word reveals the truth come with me also to James. James chapter 1 God's word is truth and reveals the truth so we when we want to know what God says on the patent seven subject when we get together and going to some kind of dialogue. What do you think what do I think no, we humbly come to Scripture and say what does God say God's Word reveals the truth.

James one verse 22 James is going to say that God's word is a matter which reveals the truth James one verse 22 but be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a matter, for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he's like, will often deceive them toward our society deceives us just our politicians. But we are often deceive were often deceived on a personal basis of who we are and what is truth when were growing up were told by parents, my brothers and sisters by teachers by coaches and by others things about us which may or may not be true. Jim you're an outstanding athlete. Jim is told actual fact he's very mediocre, but he keeps being told by his dad that he's an outstanding athlete, Susie, you've got a beautiful voice. Rest of us when we hear Susie say really, but she's constantly told she's got a beautiful voice.

Or Bob. You're no good. You will not amount to anything or merely you're not as pretty.

You're not as smart as your older sister that were growing up we hear a lot of voices a lot of ideas coming at us from all kinds of sources not most of the info we get is probably well intended is probably sincerely given but is not that it is never totally accurate.

It is so easily easily easily learned as we grow up even as we go into adulthood that we have a distorted view of ourselves as to what is true and if you been into the hall of mirrors from June at the fair. What happens there. When we look at ourselves and looking back at as we know it's ourselves, but there's a distortion we may have a bigger head than we normally have in a thin body we may have long legs are short legs. It may these matters merely may cause us to look very faster or very, very thin. The murderers are reflecting who we are but they're not reflecting accurately. They give a distorted view of reality false matter of false perception before I leave for church. I take a quick look at the motor. My wife is sick today didn't know she was 60 wanted to check me over before I left Parsons of a child and she wanted to strain my time. I had just looked in the matter and got my tie exactly as I wanted, but that you are she sometimes before I leave.

Said let me let me check your John joins the check might my shoes straighten my thighs and is glad she doesn't try to comb my hair mean that's ridiculous, and occasionally over the years. She said do you really want to go are looking like that. By the way young man young married men never ever say that your wife do you really want to go looking like that in my earlier years of marriage I tried that I no longer say that partly woman can say that to the man but mankind say that the woman know that you want of an easy life there where she's not here today so I can say these things but good is acting as a what is a matter James is telling us this is so important that this book is a perfect matter. It is the pure truth.

Does it make you uncomfortable sometimes absolutely other times when you wish on which that Scripture wasn't there.

That is true, but it is absolutely no distortions. The psalmist tell us it is pure, it is perfect. It is absolute truth of friends or family mayfly Dennis they may insult us, but in God's word that are no distortions God's word is perfect.

I like Ron Brent, the Dutch painter and that he painted about 100 self-portraits remarkable thing is Rembrandt.

Unlike many artists he painted themselves exactly as he was, you think of higher than those like that and I was painting I might make a little different, but he has such an integral day as an artist. He painted himself, exactly as he was, at least to the best of his ability and it's repeated he said I can't paint others as they are until I paint myself as I am no who you really are. Do you want to get a perfect evaluation is wonderful having a friend having an honest spouse, parent, to tell you things, but they are not perfect.

They have their prejudices, they may insult you.

They mayfly the year they may be well-meaning but they don't give a perfect analysis of who you are but God's word does, it reveals absolute truth. You see, without the word of God, you will rationalize your conduct you'll make excuses. It was a what is just the way I am. You have to put up with it.

You just have to accept me as I am. But God's words exposes us right of Hebrews says that sharper than a 200 so it goes right into the hidden recesses of our hearts, so that our eyes are opened to see ourselves not as others see us not as high. We would like to see ourselves but it exposes us as to who we really are. This is the truth of the Bible. And secondly, the character of the Bible. What does Paul say as we look back in second Timothy three verse 16 he says all Scripture is breathed out by God. The Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God in your translation that may have the word inspired in the ESV, which I'm reading from it says breathed out. Scripture is the very breath of God, whether the Bible come from. Here is Paul writing.

Yes, it's true. Paul is writing he is the human author, but God not mine is the origin of the Bible.

This is why when the Bible speaks God is speaking the Bible is the only divinely authoritative writing. I realize that Muslims believe that Karen is the actual word of God coming down from heaven, the kind that denies the deity of Christ, the Koran denies the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. I realize the Mormons, the church of the Latter Day Saints claim that the book of Mormon and other writings is the word of God. They claim that Revelation continues through the prophets. Hindus have the back of that.

Did Buddhism has the Lotus Sutra, which teaches universal salvation but the Bible in the Bible alone is the only divinely authoritative writing, and Paul here is saying something very very important in second Timothy 314 second Timothy three limiting from verse 14 he saying that God's word is sufficient for every spiritual need. Read with me. Second Timothy three verse 14 writing to Timothy. As for you Timothy. Continuing what you've learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you've landed and from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Timothy had a privilege that I personally also had of being taught the Scriptures in his own home in Timothy's case from his mother and his grandmother. They taught him the Scriptures we just dedicated three little children today. They have a tremendous privilege of privilege which many people don't have a privilege that some of you didn't have, to be brought up in a home from the moment of birth where there's tarts the word of God. Many of you for the privilege to say to the children, so young people don't resent that. I know you think sometimes your parents a little weird because they want to read the Bible to a heavier, sometimes a little embarrassed that they love Jesus. Don't be. This is one of the greatest privileges a child or young person could have that from childhood you have known the holy Scriptures Timothy which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God. That's it that's inspired is inerrant that comes from God comes from God and must be perfect is a perfect God.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work God's word is sufficient for every spiritual need that you have is always sufficient because it is always relevant is always relevant because it's eternal. The Bible is more up-to-date than today's newspaper. In fact, the Bible is so up-to-date that it is answers for questions that we have not yet asked is relevant is a follows written a long time ago 2000 3000 years ago. That's true. But remember it's coming from an eternal God was outside of time and space, a God who knows everything about everything.

A God who knows what you need to know and what you don't need to know and in his wisdom has given us these wonderful 66 books for our instruction and for our growth and followed maturity and all that I need for spiritual guidance.

All that I need as I follow Jesus is found in this book we call that the sufficiency of Scripture how gracious of God to give us an instruction book exactly what we need in this word of God leads us to salvation us was pulsing to Timothy.

Timothy, you were taught the Old Testament Scriptures, and by now he is referring primarily to the Old Testament, but even in the Old Testament.

All of the Old Testament is pointing to Jesus Christ. How is your faith going to be strengthened, how are you going to be led to saving faith in Christ answer the word of God. Faith comes by hearing, Paul says in in Romans 1017. Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. That is, the more I read of Scripture, the more I need of Christ and the more I read of Christ.

The greater my trust will be in him, and the stronger my faith will be in him because this Christ the Savior. This God will never ever fail me and God in his great love has given us, not just this book is given us his son in great love the Lord Jesus Christ comes to you to rescue you and perhaps some of you sitting here have met your mom and dad explained that to you over the years and you've never responded.

Or perhaps you've responded by pushing it away. These are the words of eternal life. This is God's message for you which must be personally responded to his Timothy diet. It wasn't enough that he had unison laws to teach them the word of God. He had to personally open his heart to Jesus and this is what he.he did this word will lead you to saving faith in Christ all you need for salvation. All you need to grow spiritually. All the guidance and wisdom and strength you need in life comes from knowing the holy Scriptures. I look at verses 16 and 17 again because God's word not only leads us to salvation. It leads us in our sanctification. Sanctification is a big word which means the process by which we grow in our faith and become more and more like Jesus.

The series is next steps in following Jesus when it was here would say that were following Jesus, how my going to follow him more closely how my goodness out of her more effectively how my going to know him better. Through his work through listening to his teaching.

Paul says here in verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, that the first thing he says the word of God teaches us that is that our truth in the Bible to be learned to be understood and to be obeyed.

This is one of the great characteristics of the authentic follower of Jesus that he or she is teachable, teachable, hope you don't think you know it all. As you follow Jesus you need to be tarts and where are you going to be taught the word of God teaches us. Secondly, says Paul, it's profitable not only for teaching, for reproof, none of us like to be reproved away. But the Bible does that our failures under false and our secrets and their adders are exposed on and master and confronted we are reproved this word of God. It touches our conscience, doesn't it is your own reading your Bible you understand that the Holy Spirit takes that word to convict you and your reproved or perhaps a brother and sister in Christ is the look at your life realize you need reproved and what did he do the elite of the verse of Scripture to you. This is what the word of God does not only does it teach us and reprove us.

Paul says it's profitable for correction. It keeps us on track. It stops us from straying psalmist says your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path easy to get off track is you find that you stop reading the Bible for a few days. Stop coming to worship for a few weeks and before you know it, not because Jeff's trying to go off track but you find that your love for Christ is getting colder and you find that your instead of following Jesus you are following the culture following yourself on your ego. Following your your pleasure what's going to bring us back to the word of God.

It corrects us. We press yesterday I was appreciating the wedding in the middle of nowhere and had my GPS on to make sure I would I would find it and I don't want women to be daydreaming.

As I was driving and I went past the opening to my rights and that the women in the GPS just level being women. Of course it was no problem to me, but what she's telling me collecting course. What is she doing she is saying to me, John, you've got off course look you turn and go back and take that path because you missed is with the Bible does doesn't it Route correction you've got off track.

What is David saying some of the mid-19 verse nine.

How shall a young man cleanse his way. How can a senior at Audrey.

Carol leads a clean life was all that's going on in this culture with their teens. How is it possible for a young man for a young woman to live for Christ at Audrey Kyle Alitalia is only one answer I have and the answer is given in Psalm 119 verse 19. How shall a young man cleanse his way, poking a young man live a clean life answered taking heed thereto according to your word young man if you follow God's word.

I don't care the darkness. I don't take care of the corruption will keep on track.

How can a businessman conducts a business and in an age where people specialize in the art of the lie can someone conduct business with integrity instead of compromise and sleaze. I'll tell you how by regulating your business and your life according to the word of God. It corrects us in the psalmist goes on to say in two verses later in summer 19 verse 11 your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against with God's word as we read it as we memorize it as it becomes part and parcel of who we are, it will correct us and stop us getting of course there's another one here profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness like a parent rearing a child. The word of God matures us in living godly lives according to God's holy standards. We are to be trains.

Why so that verse 17 the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

God saves you for a purpose. God wants you to serve him and in order for you to be usable in the Lord service you have to be trains at 1 o'clock the panthers are taken off what you think they been doing this week just lying around in the good time at home coach potatoes. I don't think so.

They have been in training why because they realize at 1 o'clock the kickoff and there's another team who wants to put them on the back and they have to be trained.

Why so that when that play is called or not thinking that what do I do here. No, they can't do that if they think of the hesitate going to lose the game know they are ready. We hope that ready, how are you going to be ready. As a follower of Jesus, we agree it's kind of sad that athletes often have more discipline to get ready than we have as followers of Jesus. Do you know that tomorrow is you go to work. God may be opening a door for you to witness someone to shine for Christ. We may be sad if you weren't ready tomorrow could be the most difficult day of your life.

You could find yourself in some crisis unexpected would you be sad if you weren't ready tomorrow.

The devil could be after you in a way that he has never attempted you before I get harassed when you be sad if you weren't ready for John you're scaring me. None are not trying to scare you.

I'm trying to challenge her. I want you to get ready ready for every good work ready to serve the Lord, ready to shine for Jesus Christ as we thought of last Sunday evening, ready to be salt ready to be the light of the world shining for Jesus Christ openly in front of others. The only way to do that is know the word of God. This is why God gives us that it's profitable for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate for every good work.

If you're not in the word of God. Don't be surprised when you're spiritually weak. Don't be surprised when you're not spiritually on your back and your confused and your discouraged and you think I don't know what to do and you make some terrible decisions with some far-reaching consequences. The word of God is sufficient for every spiritual need to know as we concluded very quickly responding to the Bible to say the obvious. The Bible is not only to be read this to be abates. The goal is not just another Bible like a student. Knowing the facts for a test and then after the transfer getting them that's not what it is. The Bible is to be personally assimilated integrated into my life and obey Jesus as if we love him we will keep his commandments. I would Hendrix used to say the Bible was not given to us to make us smarter sinners started to give you information not just to impress people, or they'll Jeep all my how he knows his Bible not really just got a good memory will know if he knows the Bible well on Monday morning at work in his home.

How he treats his wife. He raises his children. That's the test dates not just whether you've got information.

Of course we need information, but the word of God is given to us to transform our lives. This is the passage that I read in James one verses 22 and 24 where he says be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself the word hero here means an auditor together audit a course in college and never had been auditing a course until I went to Dallas seminary that was told you can audit a course and so I audited a few courses that were great enough to do the exams. I didn't want to. The professor could give your reading assignment to get enough to read the books he could give your paper to write and you say, in actual fact I'm not going to do that one. Thank you.

I'm just here to listen. I'm just interested in this course I'm auditing the course. I liked auditing the courses. It was great on the Bible as it should be no auditors should know just hearers.

If we are lying that we are deluding ourselves. Why is it some people can go to many many Bible studies and still be spiritually immature Alitalia.

They have been auditing the course. While they have learned has gone into their mind. Possibly a little. Sometimes one that even if it is going in there, but it may have gone into their mind, but is never impacted their heart, their hands their attitudes and it is never mobilize them to tell others about Jesus. James is if you like that you like the man who looks in the mirror and then he was awake. Totally pointless exercise. Jesus says, everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sense. Luke 1128 Blessed. Rather, as those who hear the word of God and keep it. We got to bless you to hear the word of God and keep it.

This is why humility is so important that you come this morning to Calvary with a humble attitude. I read the words of Hannah and she prayed for Samuel. Is this little boy grew up, remember when God started to speak to him and Samuel had to learn as we have to learn to say these were speak Lord, your servant hears you doing sitting.

It brought me here locked my just enjoy singing. I just wonder what Monroe's going to be speaking about today, but you've come to speak to me.

I want humbly to receive your word hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

Do you really expect to be changed by the word of God. So you're looking at your life and you see it and you are you you see the Syrians in the and the unspiritual attitudes that we all have your confronted with it and you signaled God's grace that has to change spirit of God, help me, help me to confess that sin to repent of that sin to share Christ with that individual, and in this way, we are becoming more and more authentic followers of Jesus listening with humility and practicing instant obedience instant written as a parent you want your children to respond instantly. Dona may not happen, but that's your goal you wanted to sell.

Think about that dad let me think about that mom when our heavenly father speaks to us. He expects instant obedience because the devil will tell you to wait tell you to delay for the word of the gospel is always now. Christ want you to act today.

If he is convicted you of a certain repent of that sin no it is spoken to you in his word and the something you should do it now. Take action, but just think about it that way. We grow in this radial God's word is change my life at this continuing to change my life. I have been privileged this over the years to see the word of God, transforming the lives of thousands of people or about your when you read the word of God daily, not just when you come to church today, tomorrow, and this worked with more than next week. This is the next step in following Jesus Scripture is one of the most exciting adventures you'll ever make my desire for you.

Each one of you is that you are excited to get into this book that more and more you love Christ and your love his word and you love to say that these feeds and listen to him so that your life will be a life of surrender to Jesus Christ read this book study this book memorize this book obey this book. It will be a lamp to your feet. It will be a light to your path. It will be food for your soul will be the very brand of life for you this is the true living word of God and it will change your life. Father, thank you for your word how gracious you are giving us.

It help us not to be critics over it, but rather to humble ourselves under it that we may be like the man that Isaiah writes, who trembles at your word that we hear your voice. Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for your grace. Thank you for forgiveness. I pray for those who don't know Christ who don't know the Savior that they will hear the command believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and that they will open their hearts to Christ. May each of us hunger and thirst after righteousness. We pray in his precious name