because he risked his life and nearly died for the sake of the work of Christ, in order to give me the help that you yourselves could not give.

My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News about the grace of God.

But he answered, "What are you doing, crying like this and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus."

I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?

Because of our love for you we were ready to share with you not only the Good News from God but even our own lives. You were so dear to us!

As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life.

This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

of being a servant of Christ Jesus to work for the Gentiles. I serve like a priest in preaching the Good News from God, in order that the Gentiles may be an offering acceptable to God, dedicated to him by the Holy Spirit.

Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess him as Lord.

Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.

Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

I am so sure of you; I take such pride in you! In all our troubles I am still full of courage; I am running over with joy.

And now I am happy about my sufferings for you, for by means of my physical sufferings I am helping to complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church.

So, in all our trouble and suffering we have been encouraged about you, friends. It was your faith that encouraged us,

Now we can give thanks to our God for you. We thank him for the joy we have in his presence because of you.