Read To Me Daily Semester 2Sample

JOSHUA 12-13:
As we heard yesterday in the book of Joshua, God fought for Israel, even causing the sun and moon to stand still. Basically, the main central body of land was conquered in only two campaigns. It is important to remember that the total destruction of the people groups listed was commanded by God because of their disgusting pagan and idolatrous practices. Joshua 10:40 “… This was what the Lord God of Israel had commanded.” See also 11:20. Vile idolatrous practices included the burning of live babies.

PSALM 72:
Today’s psalm is a patriotic poem to bless the king. The ancient title can be translated that this was written by King Solomon, but a more likely meaning is that it was written about or for Solomon. But in this time we can see that the poem goes beyond blessing the earthly king to giving adoration to the King of Kings.

ACTS 23a:
In chapter 22 of Acts, we heard Paul giving his defense from the top of the stairway leading to the military headquarters. In spite of the miracles in his story, the mob was not impressed. It was the word ‘Gentiles’ that caused the final violent reaction. We resume the story today with Paul before the Jewish High Council.

Let’s pray.
Our heavenly Father, Paul could say like Psalm 71, “You have sent troubles and suffering on me, but You will restore my strength.” And he would have had the same confidence of the psalm writer to say, “You will comfort me again.” So later while in prison in Rome, Paul wrote to the Philippians, “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.  

I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” So heavenly Father, may we emulate Paul in this attitude. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and run straight toward Him as we live in this world today.