February 18, 2028

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 17So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. 19You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. 20Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. 23Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” 24See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 26For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

1Psalm 112 The Blessings of the Just - Hallelujah! Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. 2His descendants shall be mighty in the land, a generation of the upright will be blessed. 3Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his righteousness shall endure forever. 4Light shines through the darkness for the upright; gracious, compassionate, and righteous. 5It is good for the man gracious in lending, who conducts his affairs with justice. 6For he shall never be shaken; the righteous shall be remembered forever.

15I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

34The Conditions of Discipleship. He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. 36What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37What could one give in exchange for his life? 38Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 1” The Transfiguration of Jesus.