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Philippians 3:711 Heres the good-as-it-gets subjective passage to complement the great objective accomplishments in Colossians 1:15 20. This is where we want to live daily, and lead those who are following us, count[ing] everyt hing as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Even though the world, the flesh, and the devil almost constantly keep us from extended experiences of what Paul describes here, we love our tiny tastes and glimpses and desperately want to keep realigning and recalibrating our heart-life, and our church, with this emotional North Star. Galatians 5:2223 Many of us have discovered that the longer we live the Christian life, the more admired and appreciated is the fruit of the Spirit at the end of Galatians 5. Its a seriously profound list. The more and more our life is genuinely characterized by the virtues here, the more and more we are learning to live by the Spirit, in the kind of trust and reliance that makes our everyday lives surprisingly supernatural to the patterns of this age. Romans 8:2839 Okay, so just memorize the whole of Romans 8. Some have called it the most important chapter in the Bible. It very well may be that. Perhaps resolve with some ministry partner to tackle the chapter together, five verses each week, for two months. Meet weekly to stay accountable and recite the chapter as far as youve learned it so far, for some listening ears other than your own. But if making that kind of commitment is too much in this season of ministry, at least try to button down the final dozen verses. These are the biblical Himalayas. And they are omni-relevant in the Christian life and in ministry. Numbers 6:2426 This is the so-called Aaronic Blessing of the old covenant. God instructed Aaron (Mosess brother and Israels first high priest), and his sons after him, to bless the people in this way. The threefold repetition of Lord rings of our Trinitarian Sovereign, and the use of this particular name makes it easily transferable to new-covenant Christians with the sovereign Christ as our Lord. A clear, well-paced and pastoral reciting of this blessing makes for a beautiful benediction for weekend corporate worship, or for a wedding or funeral, or for putting the kids or grandkids to bed. Jude 2425 These concluding verses from the short little missive by Jesuss half -brother Jude also make for a wonderful doxology in ending a service or speaking a goodnight blessing. Or for asking Gods ble ssing on some new ministry endeavor. And so we end with Judes words as a prayer for any fresh initiatives God is calling us to in Scripture memorization Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.