These verses are noted in the blog "if I were the devil..."
Below, they are readable in their entirety to first, grow your understanding of the reality of our current events and then, to encourage you how to faithfully live despite our world's chaos. If you need truths to hold on to during this time, take comfort in these passages.
The Bible explains our current culture and what we can expect:
Matthew 16:24-25 NIV
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples,“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.25 For whoever wants to save their life[a]will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Hebrews 10:25 CEB
Don't stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.
Matthew 5:14 GW
You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill.
John 15:12-17 NIV
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other.
Proverbs 26:11
1 Corinthians 1:20 RSV
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Galatians 6:4-5
I would redefine terms, distorting the truth, the ability to reason together fairly, and I’d fuel disunity and chaos. (Luke 4:1-15)
Philippians 2:1-11 NIV
1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jeremiah 17:9 ASV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
2 Timothy 3:12 RSV
Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Micah 6:8 CSB
He has told you men what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Deuteronomy 16:20 NKJV (study out the intended audience for context)
You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Romans 12:9 NIV
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Matthew 24
Choose your favorite version and read this passage.
God's promises that sustain us:
Isaiah 30:18-19
18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
Genesis 6:5-7 NIV
5 TheLordsaw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.6 TheLordregretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”
Job 2:3 ESV
And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason."
John 15:18 CJB
"If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first."
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2 Timothy 2:4 NIRV
A soldier does not take part in things that don't have anything to do with the army. He wants to please his commanding officer.
Proverbs 24:4-5 NIV
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
5 The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.