Read To Me Daily Semester 4Sample

MICAH 5-6:
Remember that Isaiah and Micah were contemporaries. Yesterday we read very familiar-sounding verses at the beginning of Micah 4 which start like this:

Mic. 4:1 NLT In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth. …

That was so familiar-sounding that I thought the passage must be quoted in the New Testament— but no! There are three verses there in Micah 4 that are almost exactly the same as verses found in Isaiah chapter 2. No wonder they sounded familiar!

Note that God, as he speaks in Micah, frequently jumps from one time to another without warning. He can tell the people, “You will be exiled to Babylon” in one verse, but then very quickly, God says, “Rise and crush the nations, Jerusalem.” We just have to accept that this kind of unannounced time-switching is a feature of prophetic writings.

ISAIAH 52:
The chapter break between Isaiah 50 and 51 breaks up an important connection. For any of us who are “walking in the dark without a ray of light,” (like it says at chapter 50:10), there are encouraging words for you at the beginning of chapter 51.

And our family will remember this verse from a song we used to sing:

Is. 51:11 NLT Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.
They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

REVELATION 4:
Yesterday in Revelation 3, we heard the last of the seven letters, the one to Laodicea, the spiritually indifferent church. If we were seeking to interpret the seven letters as seven church ages, we would have no difficulty in saying that that last letter fits us to a tee. Laodicea was a medical center and was known for making an eye salve. So this letter is full of irony that Christ finds them poor, wretched, blind and naked. And note that the Savior doesn’t tell them to fix the problems by their own effort. He tells them to buy the eye salve, white garments, and the gold FROM HIM. What an awesome word is this statement: 

Rev. 3:19 NLT “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.” 

Then the famous verse about Christ knocking is not spoken to unbelievers. In its first application, the famous promise is made to members of the church who are willing to turn from spiritual indifference.

Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we worship You as the one who is the Amen and Yes to all God’s promises. You are indeed the faithful and true witness, who alone can give eye-witness testimony about the origin of everything God created. We pray that we would listen carefully to everything the Holy Spirit tells us in these messages to the seven churches. Help us to realize that rebuke and punishment is a sign of your love for us. So let all our troubles teach us to turn from our sins. Teach us to evaluate our spiritual condition properly, and not with worldly eyes. Because the Laodiceans were rich and beautifully clothed, but you said they were dirt poor and stark naked. They produced eye salve, but you told them to buy it from you instead. And please give us the same, that we may see ourselves properly. Help us, Lord, to hear You each time you knock. Teach us how to have continuing fellowship with You, just like friends visiting one another and eating together. Lord, in that way, lead us to victory. Please give us also the amazing privilege of sitting with You on your throne.