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Let your heart hold fast my words;

Keep my commandments and live.

Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;

Love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!

And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].

Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her

She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,

And the years of your life will be many.

I have instructed you in the way of [skillful and godly] wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths. (Proverbs 4:4-11)

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. (Ephesians 2:13) Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation. There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all.

Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift. Therefore it says,

He

who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity. But speaking the truth in love [in all things--both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head--Christ. From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love. ( Ephesians 4:1,4-7,10-13,15-16)