November 2, 2026

1A. On Suffering The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. 2They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction 3and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. 4For if to others, indeed, they seem punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; 5Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. 6As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. 7In the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through stubble; 8They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. 9Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

1Psalm 23 The Lord, Shepherd and Host - A psalm of David. I - The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 2In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; 3he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 5II - You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. 10Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

34Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

37Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, 38because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day.”