Read To Me Daily Semester 3Sample

1KINGS 19-20:
The story we read yesterday in 1st Kings is one of the most dramatic in all of Scripture: The time when the prophet Elijah confronted King Ahab. In the New Testament, James used this story to encourage us that we are no different than Elijah, and that we should pray fervently like him.

PSALM 121:
Today’s poem, Psalm 121, is another psalm that is frequently sung, even today. Often this whole psalm is set to music. As Olsen says, this psalm lifts the fog from our eyes.

Re-reading JOHN 9:
As we re-read chapter 9 of John today, remember that in John 8 there was a tense standoff between Jesus and the religious leaders. The people took up stones to kill Jesus. John places this story here to further illustrate the opposition to Jesus.

One of the hardest verses to translate is the very last one in this chapter. That is Jesus’ answer after the Pharisees gave this incredulous and rebuking response, “Surely you don't mean that we are blind, too?” Jesus’ answer when translated literally from the Greek is, “If you were blind, you would have no [sin//guilt]...” To say someone has no sin, in English, would mean that they are totally sinless, and that is NOT what Jesus was meaning.

I think Jesus’ intent would better be translated into English like this: 

(John 9:41, similar to NLT) “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty [of still sinning], but you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we praise You as the light of the world. We are living in your light now, and before the darkness of the last days overwhelm us, we pray that we could still be busy doing your work. Lord, we thank You for this insight that is true still today: Not all sickness is caused by sin. That man being blind was so that God’s power might be seen in him, and I believe this was true whether or not You healed him. Lord I ask that You give us mature thinking regarding illnesses, especially so that we not judge people inappropriately. And we pray that You would transform us like You transformed the formerly blind man. May we similarly radiate your glory, so that people ask, “Is that the same person?” Give us wisdom to answer people who ask us questions, like the wisdom you gave the blind man. May we also freely admit, “I don’t know the answer, but one thing I know: I was blind, and now I see.”