a thread opens
For to you it is given for the sake of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
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.
My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations;
from Philippians 1:29 · a strong link
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and complete what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
from James 1:2 · a strong link
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have first place.
from Colossians 1:24
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
from Colossians 1:18
Then said Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
from John 1:27
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.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
from I Corinthians 8:4 · a strong link
But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to withstand his indignation.
from Deuteronomy 6:4
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can remain in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
from Jeremiah 10:10 · a strong link
But who can endure the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
from Nahum 1:6 · a strong link
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
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
from John 3:16 · a strong link
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
from John 1:18
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.
But the Helper, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
from I John 2:27 · a strong link
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
from John 14:26 · a strong link
To which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
from Acts 13:2 · a strong link
To which I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
from II Timothy 1:11 · a strong link
But the Lord said to him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
from I Timothy 2:7 · a strong link
At my first defense no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
from Acts 9:15
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.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
from I Corinthians 12:28
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
from Acts 20:28
And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
from Acts 14:23
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
from II Timothy 2:2
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our competence is from God;
from I Timothy 1:12
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.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and says of him, Look, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
from I Chronicles 29:17
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
from John 1:47
A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, has spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down.
from Psalms 73:1
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:
from Psalms 50:1
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:
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Look, the Lamb of God!
from I Corinthians 5:7
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from John 1:36 · a strong link
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
from John 1:29
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Philippians 1:29 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