Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

HOSEA 3-5:
Yesterday I hope you noticed the beautifully interwoven word plays or metaphors which God constructed using the names of Hosea’s three children. And verses of yesterday’s reading, are quoted in Romans 9 and 1Peter 2. The last verse ended:

Hos. 2:23 NLT “I will show love
to those I called ‘Not loved.’
And to those I called ‘Not my people,’
I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’
And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

PROVERBS 23b:
As I have already said, we are now in the part of Proverbs where the text is arranged in thematic units, unlike the individual verse-proverbs in chapters 10 through 22. The second half of chapter 23 is the words of a father to his son.

This verse is so true and wise!

Pro. 23:23 GNT Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense—
these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

MATTHEW 5a:
Today we start the chapters in Matthew called the Sermon on the Mount. These are the crowning jewels of Jesus’ teaching. Note the times when Jesus says, “You have heard it said/taught… but I say to you.” These statements are one reason why the people reacted that “Jesus taught with authority.” Note also how often Jesus tells us that the Father sees what is done in secret.

Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father and our Sovereign King, we worship You for fulfilling the prophecy given to Hosea. And it pains us to see how our spiritual adultery causes You pain. Lord forgive us for any outright worship of false gods or Satan. Or when we commit spiritual adultery by placing money or our promotion in the workplace above You, forgive us. We thank You that You have called us back from unfaithfulness, and through Christ Jesus You now call us ‘my beloved people’. We cry out to You, “You are our God!” Therefore help us to resist the temptations given by the devil just like Jesus did. When the devil wants us to satisfy our desires outside of your will for us, may we quote Scripture to him. When the devil seeks to lure us with unjustly gotten acclaim, riches, or power, may we quote Scripture to him. Thank You that through Jesus’ victory and our unity with Him, we can say to Satan, “Go away from me! I will worship the Lord God alone!” By our own will or desire we could never say that. Help us through the Holy Spirit to understand and feel our bond of union with Jesus, so that we may be victorious in resisting Satan and his forces.