Read To Me DAILYনমুনা

GENESIS 25-26:
Yesterday in Genesis 24 we read the charming story of how Rebecca became Isaac's wife.

JOB 14:
In Job chapter 13, Job challenged Zophar and his other two friends with these words,

6 GNT Listen while I state my case.
7 Why are you lying?
Do you think your lies will benefit God?
8 Are you trying to defend him?
Are you going to argue his case in court?
9 If God looks at you closely, will he find anything good?
Do you think you can fool God the way you fool others?
…
14 I am ready to risk my life.
15 I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me?
I am going to state my case to him.
16 It may even be that my boldness will save me,
since no wicked person would dare to face God.

Job said in 13:15 that he would present his case to God, and that is exactly what he does, starting in verse 19 (in the GNT) or 20 (in the NLT). And Job continues to speak to God through all of chapter 14.

MARK 9:
Yesterday at the end of Mark 8, Jesus gave this requirement for all his followers:

“Everyone who wants to follow Me must leave his own self interests, and follow Me continually with this resolve, ‘No matter if I die— even if that be by crucifixion, I will keep following the Lord!’” 

[That translation sounds different because it is from what I call the Plain English Translation. That is an English translation of our Plain Indonesian Translation (TSI).]

The rest of Mark chapter 8 has other important verses including this one:

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

Let’s pause and pray:
Oh, Lord Jesus, I want to be your follower, and I think my listener does as well. You say that we must turn from our selfish ways, and take up our cross, and follow you. We know that taking up our cross means total commitment to you, even if it means death. Oh, Lord, you are the King of Kings. You say that we are living in adulterous and sinful days. How shameful it would be if we are ashamed to confess ourselves as your followers in such evil times. So Lord, please strengthen us by the Holy Spirit so that we will have the boldness to confess that we are your followers. Increase our desire to look good in your sight, rather than just conforming to what is happening all around us. Please transform our minds, so that we begin to care more about You than we care about our own reputation.