a thread opens
Of his own will he fathered us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.
from James 1:18 · a strong link
It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
from I Peter 1:23
I will never forget your precepts: for with them you have given me life.
from John 6:63 · a strong link
I will delight myself in your statutes: I will not forget your word.
from Psalms 119:93
Unless your law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction.
from Psalms 119:16
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
from I Corinthians 8:4
And the angel said to them, Do not fear: for, look, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
from I Timothy 2:5
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
from Luke 2:10
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
from Matthew 28:18
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
from I John 3:16 · a strong link
We love him, because he first loved us.
from John 3:16 · a strong link
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith,
from I John 4:19
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it remain in the vine; no more can you, except you remain in me.
from I John 2:27
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
from John 15:4 · a strong link
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
from Philippians 1:11
The people who sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
from I Peter 2:9
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
from Matthew 4:16
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
from Job 3:5
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
from I Corinthians 12:28
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is after godliness;
from Ephesians 3:5
Neither give heed to myths and endless genealogies, which promote controversies, rather than godly building up in faith: so do.
from Titus 1:1
But refuse profane and old wives' tales, and exercise yourself rather to godliness.
from I Timothy 1:4 · a strong link
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
from I Timothy 4:7
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
And they ran and fetched him from there: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
from I Samuel 16:7 · a strong link
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and handsome: and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
from I Samuel 10:23 · a strong link
Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
from I Samuel 9:2
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
from I Corinthians 5:7
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from James 1:18 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table