Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

NEHEMIAH 1:
Yesterday in the conclusion of the book of Ezra, we heard how the returned exiles responded to Ezra’s shock and demonstration of his sorrow, and his prayer of repentance. The book ended with the names of those who were found guilty of forbidden marriages. Note that these are not just names of the guilty, but names of those who repented and sacrificed to God. They are the names of the forgiven. In some ways— and not all, this shows the kind of seriousness with which church discipline spoken of in the New Testament should be conducted. (Matthew 18, 1 & 2 Corinthians)

As I said just a few days ago, the book of Nehemiah was— according to Jewish tradition, written by Ezra, and this book was at some early time bundled with the book of Ezra. Nehemiah and Ezra had to have been close friends. If Ezra wrote the book of Nehemiah, he did so as one writing Nehemiah’s testimony, since Nehemiah speaks in the first person throughout the book. Nehemiah is a wonderful example of a man living in prayerful trust of the Lord, and a man willing to take on huge tasks because of his full belief in God. He is a wonderful example of a leader who does not take advantage of his position to enrich himself, but works for the good of all the people.

ISAIAH 34:
In Isaiah yesterday, amid the statements of judgment for Assyria in chapter 33, we still heard amazing prophecies. Here are two of them:

Is. 33:17 GNT Once again you will see a king ruling in splendor over a land that stretches in all directions.
24 No one who lives in our land will ever again complain of being sick, and all sins will be forgiven.

PHILIPPIANS 2:
Here is a promise to claim from the first chapter of Philippians:

Php. 1:6 GNT And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.

Let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, please give us the joy of Paul, and may we be like the Philippian believers. Give us the joy of financially and prayerfully supporting the people You send out to spread the Gospel. Keep our love growing for You and other people. Prepare us perfectly for your coming, including giving us knowledge and perfect judgment. We praise You and totally rely on You, because only You have the power to do what we are asking. Give us the irrepressible joy of Paul, who could write this letter while in prison. Give us so much joy in You that we say, “For me, to live is Christ, and To die is gain.” Let us count it a privilege and joy to serve You, to enter spiritual battle, and even to suffer for You. Prepare us to meet You on your Day, the Day when no one will argue that You are ruling as King over all the earth.