Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

EZRA 9-10:
Yesterday we heard how Ezra introduced himself. Note that he spoke of himself in the 3rd person, but finally resorted to ‘I’. King Artaxerxes was certainly impressed by Ezra! Ezra was given  everything he could have wanted, guaranteeing full government support of the temple worship in every way. Note how methodical Ezra was, making sure that he took Levites and temple servants along. His total party must have been at least 1,000 men. So with women and children, it would have been quite a group. And evidently others were coming back separately as well.

ISAIAH 33:
Having eyes to see and ears to hear is a theme in Isaiah, and remember what Jesus always said, “You got ears, don’t ya? Well then use them!” (My translation.) So this part of yesterday’s reading bears repeating:

Is. 32:1 NLT Look, a righteous king is coming!
And honest princes will rule under him.
2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert
and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land.
3 Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth,
and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it.

PHILIPPIANS 1:
Today we begin the little letter to the Philippian church. Remember how Paul in 2nd Corinthians showed clearly that he loved the Corinthian believers. Now in Philippians, written around the year 61 when Paul was under house arrest in Rome, we have a love letter to the Philippian church. However unlike 2nd Corinthians, in this letter there is no scolding. This is a prison letter. Paul has suffered so much! Yet there is such a tone of joy in this letter from beginning to end. One is reminded that it was in Philippi where Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten and put in the lowest dungeon, but were singing praises in the middle of the night. 

This letter includes Paul’s wonderful poem of praise about the humility of Christ and the final outcome of Christ’s self-sacrifice. And Paul exhorts us to imitate Christ in his humility. This also means that we should forgive one another and strive for unity. Note the example of Euodia and Syntyche in chapter 4. And this letter of Philippians holds some of the most precious promises in Scripture. Let’s find them and claim them!

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, for your sake, for the sake of your own reputation, and your kingdom, we pray that we would heed Paul’s appeals. May we learn to agree with one another for the glory of Christ. In an age where it is emphasized that ‘nobody’s perfect’, may we not use that as an excuse for no longer trying. We’re not talking about being the perfect parent or being perfect in our job, but striving for perfection in conforming to your will and living according to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Keep us from guilt and anxiety about things that are not important, so that we can confront the things that are important. Help us to live more holy lives. And may the God of peace give us inward peace no matter what happens in the world around us. Thank you, Jesus, that You are with us, never leaving us. So your gracious kindness is always upon us. May that transform our hearts. May we also remember that nothing can stop God loving us. And may our fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ be purified and empowered by fellowship with the Holy Spirit.