Read To Me Daily Semester 3Намуна

JEREMIAH 46-47:
After Jeremiah was finally able to give a comforting message (“Stay here in Judah and don't go to Egypt. The Lord will take care of you”), the people not only ran off to Egypt but took Jeremiah with them. (Or did he go along willingly?) Perhaps he thought that in Egypt the Lord's message to stop worshiping idols would have some traction. But again, alas... No. Then yesterday we heard the short special message to the official Baruch, Jeremiah’s faithful secretary. In today’s reading, the Lord begins giving oracles about different nations.

PROVERBS 8b:
In our second reading in Proverbs chapter 8 today, Lady Wisdom continues to speak.

1JOHN 1:
Today we begin the very special letter of 1st John. It is believed that John wrote this letter later in his life, somewhere between AD 85 and 95, and perhaps from Ephesus. He addresses everyone as his ‘children’. Like the emphasis of John’s gospel, this little letter focuses on the word ‘believe’. And the word ‘know’ is used over 30 times in this short epistle. And it is because of that very word that this letter is famous for giving assurance— especially to any who have trouble accepting that God would choose or love them.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, in the uncertainty of my own life, I take comfort that even Paul didn’t know your plans for him or what would happen to him in Jerusalem. We see here a man who loved his fellow believers— including poor believers in Jerusalem, the Corinthians, Apollos, and his young disciple, Timothy. Please help all of our Christian leaders today (and please help me) that we may follow Paul’s example in showing love. Thank you that there were friends like the three men who came from Corinth to visit Paul. May we similarly encourage our leaders by cheering them up and cheerfully following their leadership. Lord help us to put Paul’s five short commands into practice today:
May we be alert today— spiritually alert.
Help us to stand firm in our belief in You.
Help us to be brave in telling about you,
May we be strong in repelling discouragement and temptation.
May we do all our work in love.