Numbers 6:24-26
24I pray that the LORD 
will bless and protect you, 
25and that he will show you mercy 
and kindness. 
26May the LORD be good to you 
and give you peace." 

Psalm 145 
(By David for praise.)
The LORD Is Kind and Merciful
1I will praise you, 
my God and King, 
and always honor your name. 
2I will praise you each day 
and always honor your name. 
3You are wonderful, LORD, 
and you deserve all praise, 
because you are much greater 
than anyone can understand. 
4Each generation will announce 
to the next 
your wonderful 
and powerful deeds. 
5I will keep thinking about 
your marvelous glory 
and your mighty miracles. [a] 6Everyone will talk about 
your fearsome deeds, 
and I will tell all nations 
how great you are. 
7They will celebrate and sing 
about your matchless mercy 
and your power to save. 
8You are merciful, LORD! 
You are kind and patient 
and always loving. 
9You are good to everyone, 
and you take care 
of all your creation. 
10All creation will thank you, 
and your loyal people 
will praise you. 
11They will tell about 
your marvelous kingdom 
and your power. 
12Then everyone will know about 
the mighty things you do 
and your glorious kingdom. 
13Your kingdom will never end, 
and you will rule forever. 
Our LORD, you keep your word 
and do everything you say. [b] 14When someone stumbles or falls, 
you give a helping hand. 
15Everyone depends on you, 
and when the time is right, 
you provide them with food. 
16By your own hand 
you satisfy 
the desires of all who live. 
17Our LORD, everything you do 
is kind and thoughtful, 
18and you are near to everyone 
whose prayers are sincere. 
19You satisfy the desires 
of all your worshipers, 
and you come to save them 
when they ask for help. 
20You take care of everyone 
who loves you, 
but you destroy the wicked. 
21I will praise you, LORD, 
and everyone will respect 
your holy name forever. 

Footnotes:

a Psalm 145:5 and. . . miracles: One Hebrew manuscript and two ancient translations have " as others tell about your mighty miracles." 
b Psalm 145:13 Our. . . say: These words are found in one Hebrew manuscript and two ancient translations. 

Matthew 25:31-46
The Final Judgment
31When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. 32The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. 
33He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. 35When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me." 

37Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? 38When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear 39or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" 

40The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me." 

41Then the king will say to those on his left, "Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me." 

44Then the people will ask, "Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?" 

45The king will say to them, "Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me." 

46Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life." 

Romans 12:1-2
Christ Brings New Life
1Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God. 2Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. 

Philippians 3:12-21
Running toward the Goal
12I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you. 16But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed. 
17My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you. 18I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again 19that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world. 

20But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ 21has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.