a thread opens
For an overseer must be blameless, as the steward of God; not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
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.
And do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit;
from Titus 1:7
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
from Ephesians 5:18
For if the ministry of condemnation is glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness exceed in glory.
from Luke 11:13
For you have not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
from II Corinthians 3:9
And you came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
from Hebrews 12:18 · a strong link
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.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
from I Corinthians 8:4
To you it was shown, so that you might know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
from Deuteronomy 4:39 · a strong link
Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
from Deuteronomy 4:35
And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
from Isaiah 45:22
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.
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 John 3:16
Shepherd the flock of God among you, taking its oversight, not by constraint, but willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready mind;
from Acts 20:28 · a strong link
They must be silenced, who upset whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
from I Peter 5:2
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.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
from I John 2:27
Watch yourselves, that we do not lose what we have worked for, but that we receive a full reward.
from Colossians 2:6
Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
from II John 1:8 · a strong link
And I am coming soon; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
from I Corinthians 3:8
And the nations were angry, and your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, so that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
from I Corinthians 12:28 · a strong link
Therefore he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.
from Ephesians 4:11
And having disarmed the rulers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
from Ephesians 4:8 · a strong link
Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will plunder his house.
from Colossians 2:15 · a strong link
No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and plunder his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
from Matthew 12:29
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.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.
from I Chronicles 29:17
So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
from Hebrews 4:12 · a strong link
Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.
from Isaiah 55:11 · a strong link
Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
from I Peter 1:23 · a strong link
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
You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
from Revelation of John 5:12 · a strong link
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Titus 1:7 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