ISAIAH 11:1-9
Peace at Last

1-2 Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David's family will someday be king.  The Spirit of the LORD will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight.  He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the LORD.

3-4 His greatest joy will be to obey the LORD.  This king won't judge by appearances or listen to rumors.  The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice.  His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death.

5-6 Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.  Leopards will lie down with young goats, and wolves will rest with lambs.  Calves and lions will eat together and be cared for by little children.

7-9 Cows and bears will share the same pasture; their young will rest side by side.  Lions and oxen will both eat straw.  Little children will play near snake holes.  They will stick their hands into dens of poisonous snakes and never be hurt.  Nothing harmful will take place on the LORD's holy mountain.  Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD.

ISAIAH 32:1-8
Justice Will Rule

1-2 A king and his leaders will rule with justice.  They will be a place of safety from stormy winds, a stream in the desert, and a rock that gives shade from the heat of the sun. 

3-4 Then everyone who has eyes will open them and see, and those who have ears will pay attention.  All who are impatient will take time to think; everyone who stutters will talk clearly.

5-6 Fools will no longer be highly respected, and crooks won't be given positions of honor.  Fools talk foolishness.  They always make plans to do sinful things, to lie about the LORD, to let the hungry starve, and to keep water from those who are thirsty.

7-8 Cruel people tell lies--they do evil things, and make cruel plans to destroy the poor and needy, even when they beg for justice.  But helpful people can always be trusted to make helpful plans.

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7
Church Officials

1 It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile.  2 That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.  They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach.  3 They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.  4 Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful.  5 If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?

6 They must not be new followers of the Lord.  If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil.  7 Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers.  Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.

2 TIMOTHY 2:14-26
An Approved Worker

14 Don't let anyone forget these things.  And with God as your witness, you must warn them not to argue about words.  These arguments don't help anyone.  In fact, they ruin everyone who listens to them.  15 Do your best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message.  16 Keep away from worthless and useless talk.  It only leads people farther away from God.  17 That sort of talk is like a sore that won't heal.  And Hymenaeus and Philetus have been talking this way 18 by teaching that the dead have already been raised to life.  This is far from the truth, and it is destroying the faith of some people.

19 But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, "The Lord knows who his people are.  So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil."

20 In a large house some dishes are made of gold or silver, while others are made of wood or clay.  Some of these are special, and others are not.  21 That's also how it is with people.  The ones who stop doing evil and make themselves pure will become special.  Their lives will be holy and pleasing to their Master, and they will be able to do all kinds of good deeds.

22 Run from temptations that capture young people.  Always do the right thing. Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with.  Worship with people whose hearts are pure.  23 Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments.  These only lead to trouble, 24 and God's servants must not be troublemakers.  They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.

25 Be humble when you correct people who oppose you.  Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth.  26 They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape.

TITUS 1:5-9
What Titus Was To Do in Crete

5 I left you in Crete to do what had been left undone and to appoint leaders for the churches in each town.  As I told you, 6 they must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.  Their children must be followers of the Lord and not have a reputation for being wild and disobedient.  7 Church officials are in charge of God's work, and so they must also have a good reputation.  They must not be bossy, quick-tempered, heavy drinkers, bullies, or dishonest in business.  8 Instead, they must be friendly to strangers and enjoy doing good things.  They must also be sensible, fair, pure, and self-controlled.  9 They must stick to the true message they were taught, so that their good teaching can help others and correct everyone who opposes it.