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Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 20–21; Psalm 11; Revelation 8 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this September 3rd episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 20–21, Psalm 11, and Revelation 8. Today's readings confront us with difficult images of rebellion, violence, judgment, and a world experiencing the consequences of turning away from God. Ezekiel announces the coming sword, while Revelation gives us the frightening imagery surrounding the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the trumpets. Yet right in the middle of these unsettling passages, Psalm 11 reminds us where our hope is found. The righteous Lord loves justice, and the virtuous will see his face. Then something remarkable happens in Revelation. Heaven falls silent. Before the Lamb, there is nothing left to say. Today's devotion invites us into that silence and asks us to look again at the face of God revealed in Jesus. At Calvary, Christ enters into the violence and judgment of this world, not answering violence with violence but overcoming it through self-giving, radically forgiving love. God's dream for creation is not destruction. It is reconciliation, restoration, and shalom. Even when the darkness around us seems overwhelming, we are invited to train our hearts to see what God sees and trust that Christ is making all things new. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Terror and the sword, and the face of God. How sobering these passages are. Ezekiel cries out about the sword that is coming upon a world caught up in rebellion. Revelation gives us images of terror and judgment. The prophets will not allow us to pretend that violence, idolatry, injustice, and human rebellion have no consequences. A world bent on destruction eventually experiences the fruit of its own way. But before we despair, the psalmist speaks: "The righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face." His face. That is what God desires. Relationship. Communion. Face to face. God is not intent on destruction. God is intent on drawing his creation into the fullness of life with himself. Yet our violence, pride, fear, and idolatry blind us to his face. Then Revelation gives us this extraordinary scene. The Lamb breaks the seventh seal. And heaven falls silent. There is awe. There is mystery. There is the recognition of everything that is unfolding. Sometimes silence is the only appropriate response when we begin to see the depth of what God has done in Christ. The psalmist asks, "Why do you say to me, 'Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety'?" Where do we flee when the world seems overwhelmed by violence? Where do we go when terror and the sword seem to surround us? We fly to Christ. We fly to Calvary. That is our mountain of safety. At Calvary, the Lamb of God enters completely into the violence of his rebellious creation. And what does he do? He does not strike back. He does not answer violence with greater violence. He stretches out his hands. He forgives. Through his self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love, Jesus enters death itself and breaks its power from within. This is the face of God. Look at Jesus and see. God's dream is not endless destruction. God's dream is a world restored. Humanity reconciled. Creation healed. Enemies becoming friends. The broken made whole. The lost brought home. Shalom. Jesus has come to accomplish this, and God's dream for his creation will not fail. The darkness around us may be easy to see. Violence is easy to see. Fear is easy to see. Division and despair are easy to see. But faith trains our eyes to see something more. Faith teaches us to see what God sees. It teaches us to look at the Lamb and believe that his love is stronger than death. Paul could see the day when Christ would be all and in all. John could see a multitude gathered around the throne. The prophets could see swords becoming plowshares. They were learning to see God's dream. And so must we. Let us fix our eyes on Christ. Let us train our souls to recognize his face. Let us receive his peace, his joy, his forgiveness, and his life. And then let us go into this frightened and divided world as ambassadors of his radically reconciling love. Sometimes the appropriate response is simply silence. To stand in awe before the Lamb. To see his face. To receive his love. And then to become what we have received. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
At the heart of the Christian life is love—first for God and then for the people He has placed around us. Discover what it means to love God wholeheartedly and express that love through genuine compassion, service, forgiveness, and care for others.
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 17–19; Revelation 7 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this September 2nd episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 17–19 and Revelation 7. Ezekiel gives us vivid riddles and prophetic pictures of Israel's history, its broken covenants, and the consequences of choosing its own way. Yet running through these difficult chapters is an important word about responsibility, repentance, and God's desire to bring life out of what appears hopeless. Then Revelation gives us an extraordinary vision. John sees a multitude so vast that no one can count them, gathered from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They stand together before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white and singing the song of salvation. Who are these people? And how did they get there? Today's devotion invites us to see that they are not standing before God because they successfully hid their failures or managed to make themselves worthy. They have been washed, healed, and clothed by the Lamb. Their old coverings of shame, fear, reputation, and striving have been exchanged for the life of Christ. This is our invitation too. We can stop hiding, stop striving to make ourselves acceptable, and receive the love that makes us new. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Who are these people dressed in white? And why does John take such care to describe them? John looks and sees a vast crowd, far too great to count. They come from every nation. Every tribe. Every people. Every language. They are standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And together they are singing: "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!" But who are they? One of the elders tells John that these are the ones who have come through great suffering. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. It is a strange and beautiful image. They are dressed in white, but not because they managed to keep themselves clean. They stand where they stand because of what the Lamb has done for them. They once knew hunger and thirst. Now they are satisfied. They once knew tears and sorrow. Now every tear is being wiped away. They once knew what it was to feel exposed, vulnerable, ashamed, and alone. Now they are sheltered. They are known. They belong. They are loved. And perhaps this is one of the great invitations of the gospel. We spend so much of our lives trying to find something with which to clothe ourselves. We clothe ourselves in our accomplishments. We clothe ourselves in reputation. We clothe ourselves in religion. We clothe ourselves in being right. We clothe ourselves in the approval of other people. We try to cover the parts of ourselves that we fear others might see. We hide our wounds. We hide our failures. We hide our shame. We keep adding layers, hoping eventually we will feel safe. But none of these garments can give us the life we are looking for. The people John sees have let those old garments go. They have come before God as they really are. And the Lamb has done for them what they could never do for themselves. He has made them clean. He has given them life. He has clothed them in himself. That is why they sing. Their song is not about what they have accomplished. Their song is about what God has done. "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!" This is good news for us today. You do not have to hide. You do not have to manufacture a version of yourself that you think God will finally accept. You do not have to cover your shame with achievement, religion, success, or the approval of others. You can come as you are. The Lamb has stepped forward for you. The Lamb has given himself for you. The Lamb clothes you in his own life and love. And notice who is standing there. Every nation. Every tribe. Every people. Every language. This is the great family God is gathering. The Lamb is not building a small tribe of people who look alike, think alike, speak alike, or come from the same place. He is gathering humanity. And together this innumerable multitude discovers what is true. They are known. They are sheltered. They are loved. Their hunger will not have the final word. Their thirst will not have the final word. Their suffering will not have the final word. Even their tears will not have the final word. The Lamb who stands at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 15–16; Psalm 70; Revelation 6 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this first day of September, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 15–16, Psalm 70, and Revelation 6. Ezekiel gives us a painful and deeply personal picture of God's relationship with his people. The prophet reaches for the language of family, marriage, abandonment, betrayal, and heartbreak to describe Israel's wandering. These are difficult images, but they reveal that God is not cold or detached. He is the God whose heart is moved by the suffering, rebellion, and loss of his children. Yet betrayal is not the end of the story. God promises to remember his covenant and restore the relationship that has been shattered. Psalm 70 gives voice to the urgent cry of those who need rescue: "O God, come quickly to help me." Revelation 6 then confronts us with the violence, fear, injustice, and devastation present within the world. Through all these passages, we are invited to see the persistent love of God. In Jesus, God enters our brokenness and bears its full weight in order to bring us home. The final word is not abandonment, revenge, or destruction. The final word is restoration. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The weight of betrayal and the depths of God's love. Ezekiel reaches for image after image to describe the heartbreak of God. One metaphor is not enough. He speaks of a parent who finds an abandoned child, cares for her, raises her, and gives her life. He speaks of a spouse whose love is rejected and betrayed. The language is harsh and unsettling because betrayal is harsh and unsettling. But Ezekiel does not want us to imagine a distant God who is unmoved by what happens in the world. He wants us to see the broken heart of God. God is not indifferent to our wandering. He is not cold in the face of human suffering. He is not untouched by violence, exploitation, selfishness, or the ways we wound one another. God loves. And because God loves, God grieves. The story Ezekiel tells is the story of a people who have received everything and then turned away from the One who gave it. They have forgotten their beginning. They have forgotten their rescue. They have forgotten the love that found them when they had nothing. Yet even here, God remembers. God remembers the covenant. God remains determined to restore what has been broken. That is the astonishing turn in the story. The end is not bitterness. The end is not endless vengeance. The end is restoration. It is a relationship made new. It is a covenant remembered. It is the wayward brought home. The prophet strains to describe this love, but ultimately we must look to Jesus. Jesus is God's love in flesh and blood. He is the clearest picture of the heart of God. In Jesus, God enters the full depth of our betrayal, rejection, violence, and shame. He does not remain at a safe distance. He comes near. He bears our wounds. He absorbs our hostility. He enters our death. And from within it all, he brings resurrection. This is the love that restores us. It is not sentimental love. It is not shallow approval. It is the fierce, suffering, forgiving love of God that refuses to abandon his creation. Revelation 6 gives us images of a world unraveling under the weight of conquest, violence, scarcity, death, and fear. It can feel frightening because it reflects so much of what we see around us. But the Lamb is still at the center of the story. The One who opened the seals is the One who was slain. The Judge of the world is the Lamb who gave himself for the world. That changes how we understand everything. God's purpose is not to discard his creation but to heal it. God's intention is not to surrender the world to death but to make all things new. So when Psalm 70 cries, "O God, come quickly to help me," we can pray it with confidence. God has come. God is coming. God is present even now, working within the ruins to restore what has been lost. May we awaken today to the depth of this love. May we see that we are not abandoned. May we trust that our failures do not have the final word. The final word belongs to the God who remembers, restores, and makes all things new. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 12–14; Revelation 5 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 31st episode, Heather guides us through Ezekiel 12–14 and Revelation 5. In Ezekiel, we encounter a people who have become resistant to God's voice. The prophet acts out the coming exile, carrying his belongings through a hole in the wall as a sign of what is to come. False prophets continue offering comforting illusions, while hidden idols have taken root within the hearts of the people. Yet God continues to speak. Even amid rebellion and judgment, he calls his people to turn away from their idols and return to him. Then, in Revelation 5, John sees a scroll sealed with seven seals. No one in heaven or on earth appears worthy to open it, and John begins to weep. But an elder tells him to look again. When John looks, he sees the Lamb. Jesus steps forward on behalf of a broken and rebellious world. Through his self-giving and forgiving love, he opens the way toward healing, restoration, and new creation. The sorrow of John's first look becomes the worship and new song of a countless multitude. Today's devotion encourages us to keep looking. When our first look brings only grief, confusion, shame, or despair, we are invited to look again and see the Lamb who has stepped forward for us. TODAY'S DEVOTION: At first look, you might weep. But you need to look again. We look for answers to the judgment that life is sure to bring, the rebellion that is present in every human heart, and the destruction that comes from our own selfish ways. When we take that first look, we may weep because we cannot see an answer. John could not see an answer either. He wept because he recognized that he had no answer within himself. No one had been found worthy to open the scroll. No one had stepped forward on behalf of this broken and rebellious world. John wept for himself. He wept for his people. He wept for the world. But an elder stopped him and told him to look again. In this second look, John would see the answer. And the answer was not what he expected. The answer was the Lamb. The elder said, "Stop weeping. Look." The Lamb steps forward to take the scroll that represents the judgment this broken and rebellious world has brought upon itself. He is not forced forward. He is not pushed or compelled. He steps forward willingly because of the love he has for his broken world and for broken people like you and me. The Lamb is the only one who can answer the judgment we have brought into this life. The scroll was nailed with him to the cross. There, he answered the accusations written against humanity. He did not answer violence with greater violence. He answered it with self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. That is what we are invited to look at again. Then John is told to take a third look. In this third look, he sees all that the Lamb has accomplished by stepping forward. He sees people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. Countless millions surround the throne, worshiping and adoring the Lamb. So keep looking. When you cannot see an answer through your tears, keep looking. When your first look reveals only rebellion, judgment, suffering, and loss, look again. You will see the Lamb. He alone is the answer you are looking for. He is the answer to your despair and shame. He is the answer to your broken heart and your regrets. He has stepped forward for you, out of love, to do what he alone can do. And then look a third time. You will see that the Lamb has stepped forward for countless millions of others, broken and rebellious people just like us. He is making them new. He is restoring their hearts. He is drying their tears. He is giving them a new song. Worthy is the Lamb. May God enable us to sing this new song today. May he give us eyes to look, and look, and look again. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
A church of Jesus in Chattanooga, Tennessee that loves God and lives in community for the sake of the city.We gather for worship on Sundays at 10am at Battle Academy (1601 Market Street).@citycollectivechatt on Instagramwww.citycollective.usinfo@citycollectivechatt.com
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 8–11; Revelation 4 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 30th episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 8–11 and Revelation 4. In Ezekiel, the prophet is given a troubling vision of what is happening within the temple in Jerusalem. The place intended for the worship of God has become filled with idolatry, corruption, and hidden practices. Ezekiel witnesses the glory of God departing from the temple as the people continue to place other things at the center of their lives. Yet even in the midst of judgment and exile, God offers a promise of restoration. He promises to gather his scattered people, give them an undivided heart, and place a new spirit within them. Hearts of stone will be replaced with tender and responsive hearts. Then, in Revelation 4, John is invited through an open door into the throne room of heaven. There he sees the true center of all reality. Around the throne are living beings, elders, flashes of lightning, and ceaseless worship. Everything is ordered around the One who sits upon the throne. Today's devotion invites us to see what heaven sees. Christ is at the center of all things. When our lives become centered on lesser things, they drift toward confusion, anxiety, and disorder. But when Christ takes his rightful place at the center of our hearts, our priorities, and our affections, life begins to align with what is ultimately true. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He is at the center. Do you see it? The vision given to John in Revelation places the throne of God at the very heart of heaven. Everything surrounds it. The living beings, the elders, the sea of glass, and the great chorus of worship are all arranged around the One who sits upon the throne. At the center of what is, what has been, and what will forever be is God. The problem is that we often lack the eyes to see what is truly real. We live off-center. Our lives begin to orbit around lesser things. We place our work, possessions, fears, ambitions, relationships, politics, pain, or need for approval at the center. These things may be important, but they were never intended to bear the weight of becoming the center of our lives. When something other than Christ occupies the center, everything begins to feel disordered. We become anxious. We become confused. We lose our sense of proportion and purpose. Ezekiel sees this happening in the temple. The place that had been set apart for the worship of God had become crowded with idols. The people continued to participate in religious activity, but their hearts had moved far away. Other things had taken the center. But John is shown another vision. He sees heaven as it truly is. Everything is properly ordered around the throne. Worship breaks out because all of creation recognizes the One at the center. The living beings are covered with eyes. They see what is real. They see God in his beauty, holiness, goodness, and glory. Because they see, they worship. John writes his vision so that we might see too. Christ is at the center. He is the center of creation. He is the center of history. He is the center of salvation. He is the center of the life that God is restoring within us. We do not make Christ the center by our effort or devotion. He already is the center. Our invitation is to awaken to what is true and allow our lives to become aligned with that reality. When Christ is at the center of our hearts, affections, and priorities, worship begins to arise here and now. Life starts to find its proper order. Our fears no longer occupy the throne. Our failures no longer define us. Our ambitions no longer control us. Our circumstances no longer determine whether God is near. Christ is at the center, and we begin to participate in the joy, strength, and purpose of his life. Ezekiel also gives us a promise. God will gather his people and give them an undivided heart. He will remove their stony and stubborn hearts and give them tender, responsive hearts. That is what we need. We need hearts that are no longer divided among a thousand competing centers. We need hearts made tender and whole by the Spirit, hearts that are able to see Jesus and respond to his love. So today, may God give us eyes to see. May we see Christ at the center of all things. May our lives become aligned with heaven's true focus. And may worship break out in our hearts, our homes, our relationships, and everything we do. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
"Loving God, Loving People!"
LOVING GOD - Matthew 18:21-35 - Scott Henning by FBC Benicia
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 4–7; Revelation 3 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 29th episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 4–7 and Revelation 3. In Ezekiel, we encounter vivid and sobering signs of the judgment coming upon Jerusalem. Ezekiel acts out the siege of the city, revealing the consequences of violence, idolatry, injustice, and a people who have placed their confidence in something other than God. The warnings are difficult, but they call God's people to wake up and see the truth about the path they have chosen. Then, in Revelation 3, Jesus speaks to the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. He calls the sleeping to awaken, encourages the faithful to persevere, and confronts those who have become comfortable and self-sufficient. The church in Laodicea believes it is rich and needs nothing, yet Jesus tells them that they cannot see their true condition. Still, Jesus does not abandon them. He stands outside the door and knocks, inviting them to open their lives to him and share a meal as friends. Today's devotion asks us to consider whether success, comfort, possessions, or self-reliance have quietly pushed Jesus to the margins of our lives. His knocking is not the sound of condemnation. It is the persistent invitation of love, calling us back into communion and the true riches of his presence. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He stands at the door and knocks. In the vision given to John, we meet Jesus outside the door of the church in Laodicea. The door has been closed from the inside by people who have become content with their own wealth and self-sufficiency. They say, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing." They believe they are thriving. They imagine that their success and resources are evidence that everything is well. But Jesus sees what they cannot see. They are poor. They are blind. They are exposed. Their wealth has blinded them to their need. Success and comfort have taken the place of communion with Christ. They have become so confident in what they possess that they no longer recognize the One standing outside the door. It is a sobering picture. This is not only a warning for churches. It is a warning for each one of us. The seduction of self-reliance can quietly push Jesus away from the center of our lives. We begin to trust our own resources, abilities, achievements, intelligence, or reputation. We may even confuse outward success with inward health. We imagine that we are living fully, while slowly exchanging the life of Christ for something far smaller. But the beautiful thing in this passage is the persistence of Jesus. He does not abandon the church. He does not walk away in disgust. He does not stop loving those who have pushed him outside. He stands at the door and knocks. Jesus continues to invite them into fellowship. He says that if anyone hears his voice and opens the door, he will come in and share a meal with that person as friends. This is not the voice of rejection. It is the voice of love. Jesus wants to open our eyes. He wants us to see the depth of our need and the greatness of his grace. He wants to free us from the illusion that we can create life for ourselves. The true riches are not found in what we possess. The true riches are found in him. In Christ, we are invited into communion, friendship, belonging, and the fullness of the life he shares with the Father and the Spirit. Maybe there is a door in your life that has been closed to Jesus. Maybe there is an ambition, fear, resentment, possession, relationship, or sense of self-sufficiency that has taken his place at the center. Listen today. He is still knocking. His knocking is not an angry demand. It is a gracious invitation to return, to open the door, and to receive the life that only he can give. Let him in. Sit with him. Receive the true riches of his presence. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 1–3; Revelation 2 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 28th episode, Hunter guides us through Ezekiel 1–3 and Revelation 2. In Ezekiel, we encounter an awe-inspiring vision of God's glory beside the Kebar River. Ezekiel sees living beings, wheels within wheels, flashes of fire, and a throne above the heavens. In the midst of exile, far from Jerusalem and everything familiar, God reveals that his presence has not abandoned his people. Ezekiel is then called to speak God's Word to a stubborn and rebellious nation. His task is not to control how people respond, but to listen, receive the Word for himself, and faithfully speak what he has been given. Then, in Revelation 2, Jesus walks among the seven golden lampstands, which represent the churches. He is present among his people, offering encouragement, correction, warning, and hope. Today's devotion invites us to look for Jesus where he has promised to be found: among his people. Even when the church is imperfect, messy, or difficult, Christ has not abandoned it. He continues to walk among us, speak through his Word, and invite anyone with ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Where do we find Jesus? John gives us a clear answer in Revelation. Jesus is standing and walking among the seven golden lampstands, and the lampstands represent the seven churches. Jesus is right in the midst of his people. He is not confined to the walls of a building. He is not hidden in some far-off, unreachable place. He is here, among those who belong to him, even when that gathering is messy, imperfect, and complicated. Seven is often the biblical number of wholeness and completion. So when John describes Jesus walking among the seven lampstands, we are being shown something larger than seven individual congregations in Asia Minor. Jesus is present among the whole church. He is present among all his people. These churches are not perfect. Some have lost their first love. Some are enduring persecution. Some have compromised with the surrounding culture. Some are tolerating destructive teaching and behavior. And yet Jesus is among them. He has not walked away. He comes with words of comfort, correction, warning, and promise. His presence is not passive. He speaks because he loves his people and desires their healing, faithfulness, and renewal. Again and again, John tells us, "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." That means more than simply hearing words. It means tuning our hearts toward God. It means allowing his Word to address us, challenge us, correct us, and reshape the way we live. This podcast is not simply about reading the Scriptures. It is about allowing the Scriptures to read us. As we gather around God's Word, Christ is present. He meets us in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. He speaks into our fears, failures, hopes, relationships, and communities. We do not have to work ourselves into a spiritual frenzy to find him. He is exactly where we would expect him to be. He is among his people. He is present when we gather, when we listen, when we pray, and when we open ourselves to the transforming work of the Spirit. Sometimes we may be tempted to withdraw from imperfect community. We may become disillusioned by the failures of the church or frustrated by the people around us. But Jesus has not abandoned his people. He walks among the lampstands. He is present within the mess, offering comfort, strength, protection, loving correction, and joy. So today, let us have ears to hear. Let us look for Jesus among his people, not only among the polished and impressive, but among ordinary, wounded, complicated human beings who are learning to follow him. Let us allow Christ to read us through his Word. Let us receive his encouragement, correction, and love. Jesus is here. He walks among us. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalms 143–144 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 27th episode, Hunter guides us through Jeremiah 52, Revelation 1, and Psalms 143–144. Jeremiah closes with the tragic fall of Jerusalem. The city is burned, the temple is destroyed, King Zedekiah is blinded, and God's people are carried into exile. It is a devastating picture of a king and kingdom brought low. But our reading does not end in the ruins. Revelation opens with John's vision of Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. This King has eyes like flames of fire, feet like polished bronze, and a voice like mighty ocean waves. Today's devotion reminds us that Christ enters the ruins of our lives, gathers the exiles, and leads us home. The story does not end in captivity, fear, or defeat. Because of Jesus, it will end with a song of deliverance, freedom, joy, and love. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It will end with a song. Today, for the first time this year, we finished a book of the Bible. And Jeremiah ends with a song of exile and judgment. We read of a king and a kingdom brought low. Zedekiah is blinded. Jerusalem is reduced to rubble. The temple is burned, and the people are sent away from their home. But the story does not end in ruin. From the ruins of Jeremiah, we move into John's vision in Revelation. And in that vision, we see hope rising from the ashes. Someone like the Son of Man emerges. He is a King far greater than Zedekiah. His eyes are like flames of fire. A gold sash crosses his chest. His feet are like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice is as mighty as ocean waves. This is our King. This is Jesus. And this King gathers all the exiles. He gathers the broken, the fearful, the defeated, and those who have known captivity in body, soul, or spirit. He seeks out those who have been crushed beneath the weight of ruins, those who have been scattered and long to find their way home. To every exile, he offers a new kingdom and a new song. It is not a song of despair, but a song of deliverance and hope. The psalmist gives us the words: "May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord." This is not simply the ending of today's Scripture reading. It is the ending of our story too. Our lives, no matter how marked by ruin or exile, will end with a song that leads us forward into eternal life. Our King has come, and there is none like him. So let this song, the song of his love and freedom, take root in your heart. Grow more convinced and more devoted to its message. His love sets us free. And this love is not only for us. It is for the world. For God so loved the world. Whatever ruins you see today, do not mistake them for the end of the story. Whatever exile you are experiencing, do not believe that you have been forgotten. The risen King is gathering his people. He walks among us. His voice is like mighty waters, and his word to the frightened and fallen is still the same: "Don't be afraid." The story will end with a song. That's the prayer I have for my own soul today. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 50–51; 3 John Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 26th episode, Hunter guides us through Jeremiah 50–51 and the short but powerful letter of 3 John. In Jeremiah, we hear a sweeping prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon. The empire that once appeared invincible will be brought low. Its pride, violence, and oppression will not have the final word. God promises to remember his people, gather those who have been scattered, and bring them home. Then, in 3 John, we meet two men who could hardly be more different. Diotrephes loves to be first. He uses his influence to control others, rejects correction, and spreads accusations. Demetrius, by contrast, is known for humility and truth. His life bears witness to the good news he carries. Today's devotion invites us to consider which path we are choosing. Pride turns life inward and makes everything about us. Truth turns our attention toward God and sets us free. May we become humble pilgrims like Demetrius, growing in truth, walking in love, and discovering the joy Christ gives. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Diotrephes and Demetrius could not be more different. Diotrephes was known for speaking lies. He loved being the leader and wanted everything to revolve around him. He rejected the authority of others, spread accusations, and used his position to exclude people who would not submit to his control. He loved to be first. Demetrius was different. He was a humble, traveling messenger who spoke the truth of the good news. His words brought freedom because that is what truth does. John says that everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. That is an extraordinary description. Demetrius did not need to promote himself. He did not need to grasp for influence or force others to recognize his importance. His life and character bore witness to the truth he proclaimed. The truth will always point us away from ourselves and toward God. Pride makes everything about us. It asks how we can be noticed, admired, obeyed, or placed first. It becomes defensive when questioned and threatened when others are celebrated. But the truth revealed in Jesus leads us in another direction. Jesus does not grasp for power. He empties himself. He kneels. He serves. He gives himself away in love. This is the way of Demetrius, the way of the humble, truth-speaking pilgrim. John's words invite us to examine our own hearts. Are we becoming defensive and controlling like Diotrephes? Do we need to be recognized, praised, or placed first? Or are we willing to walk quietly in truth, trusting that God sees us and that the truth itself will bear witness? Truth does not need our pride to defend it. Truth sets us free. The good news directs our attention away from our small and anxious selves and toward the God who is love. It frees us from the exhausting need to prove ourselves. It gives us the joy of simply walking with Christ and bearing faithful witness to his life. So let us choose the way of Demetrius. Let us become humble, truth-speaking pilgrims, growing in the truth, being set free by the truth, and discovering the joy of God along the way. May God give us the heart of Demetrius. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 37–39; 2 John Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 25th episode, Hunter leads us through Jeremiah 37–39 and the letter of 2 John. In Jeremiah, Jerusalem is surrounded by the Babylonian army while King Zedekiah struggles between fear, pride, and the truth God speaks through the prophet. Although Zedekiah repeatedly seeks Jeremiah's counsel, he remains unwilling to trust and obey what he hears. His fear of others and his desire to preserve his position eventually cost him his freedom, his kingdom, and even his sight. Then, in 2 John, we hear an invitation to walk in truth and love. John reminds us that the life of Christ is not shaped by fear, pride, or anxious control, but by remaining rooted in the love and teaching of Jesus. Today's devotion invites us to examine the voices guiding our lives. Pride and fear can leave us spiritually blind and imprisoned, but the love of God opens our eyes, frees our hearts, and enables us to walk in mercy, grace, and truth. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Blinded by pride and fear, Zedekiah's fate stands as a stark warning for us all. He could not hear or see the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah. Instead, he clung tightly to his own life, his position, and his fears. In the end, everything he was so desperate to avoid came to pass. His city fell, his freedom was taken, and his eyes were put out. He became a prisoner and was led away to Babylon, just as Jeremiah had faithfully warned him. Pride and fear make harsh and cruel masters. Zedekiah's story is one of gradually yielding himself to their grip. Again and again, he hears the truth, but he cannot bring himself to trust it. He wants Jeremiah's counsel, but he is afraid of what others will think. He wants deliverance, but he is unwilling to surrender control. He wants another outcome, but he cannot release the very things that are leading him toward destruction. When pride and fear rule within us, we also begin to lose our sight. We become prisoners of our own anxious striving, our need to control, our fear of being exposed, and our determination to be right. Pride tells us that we must preserve ourselves. Fear tells us that surrender is too dangerous. Together, they can make us deaf to the voice of God and blind to the path of life that is directly in front of us. But in today's reading from 2 John, we hear another way. It is a way marked by grace, mercy, truth, and love. John invites us to remain in the teaching of Christ and to walk in love. He reminds us to be diligent so that we do not lose what we have received. This is not a call to anxious religious striving. It is an invitation to remain rooted in the profound love God has for us and to let that love shape every step we take. It is in God's love that we find sight. It is in God's love that we find freedom. It is in God's love that we discover the truth about God, ourselves, and one another. As we root ourselves in the gospel, release our fears, and let go of our pride, we are freed from the blindness that once held us captive. We begin to see more clearly. We taste a deeper freedom. We become capable of receiving and sharing the love of Christ. Zedekiah clung tightly to his position and lost everything. Jesus shows us another way. He empties himself, gives himself away, and reveals that true life is found not in grasping but in surrender, not in control but in trust, and not in pride but in self-giving love. So what voice will guide you today? Will it be fear? Will it be pride? Or will it be the voice of the One who is grace, mercy, truth, and love? May we recognize and reject the voices of pride and fear in our lives. May we walk in God's love, see with clear eyes, and experience the fullness of mercy and grace that is ours in Christ. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
In Episode 14 of Christians Follow Torah Too, Part 7 of our Deuteronomy series, we continue our verse-by-verse study through Deuteronomy 29–32 and examine what God's covenant, commandments, and Torah teach us about faithful living. What does it mean to truly love God with all your heart? Does obedience to God's commandments still matter for followers of Jesus? And how does Deuteronomy help us understand covenant faithfulness, holiness, generosity, justice, and discipleship? In this Bible study, we explore the biblical principles shared by Christians and Torah-observant believers as we look closely at Deuteronomy and compare its teachings with the words of Yeshua and the rest of Scripture.
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 33–34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 24th episode, Heather joins us as we continue our journey through the Scriptures with Jeremiah 33–34, Psalm 74, and 1 John 5. In Jeremiah, we hear God's promises of healing, restoration, and renewed joy spoken into a time of devastation and uncertainty. Even as Jerusalem faces destruction and the people struggle with broken promises, God declares that desolate places will once again be filled with songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 74 gives voice to the pain of those who cannot understand what has happened around them. The psalmist cries out honestly, asking God to remember his people and act on their behalf. Then, in 1 John 5, John repeatedly reminds his readers of what they can know. Yet this knowing is not about having every mystery solved or every belief perfectly organized. It is about knowing the love and presence of God deeply enough to trust him when life does not make sense. Today's devotion invites us to hold uncertainty with humility, resist the desire to master God, and rest in what has been revealed to us in Jesus: God is love, we belong to him, and he is present with us even in our unknowing. TODAY'S DEVOTION: What do you know? John wants to make sure that you and I know a few things. Before he signs off on his letter, his parting words carry this refrain again and again: We know. But John is not telling us that we must know and believe all the right things so that our lives will finally make sense. Many people approach religion this way. We think that if we try hard enough to understand all the right doctrines, believe all the right things, and do everything correctly, then life will make sense and everything will go well. But that is simply not how life works. There are too many things that happen in this world that do not make sense. We all face pain, disappointment, loss, confusion, and circumstances that cannot be neatly explained, no matter how much we think we know about God or how carefully arranged our beliefs may be. John does want us to know some things. But the things he wants us to know are the things that help us trust when life does not make sense. John writes to us with the heart of a loving pastor. He calls us his children. He wants us to know what is true, not so that we can control life, explain every mystery, or win every theological argument, but so that we can trust God when our knowledge reaches its limits. Know that God is love. Know that you have fellowship with him. Know that he is with you now, even in your unknowing. John ends his letter with a tender warning: "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." Stay away from idols, child. An idol can be more than a statue or a false god. Even our need for certainty can become an idol. Our theology, our interpretations, and our desire to explain everything can begin to take the place of trust. Know what you need to know. And one of the things we need to know is that not everything can be known. So be careful about trying to nail down every mystery. Do not approach faith, theology, or the Bible as something that can be mastered and controlled. When John tells us that he wants us to know, he is not inviting us to eliminate all uncertainty. He is inviting us into a journey of faith, one in which we must learn to live with mystery, paradox, and questions that do not yet have answers. Faith is not certainty about everything. Faith is trust in the One who is with us in everything. So know what you need to know. God is love. You belong to him. You have fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. And even when life does not make sense, you are not alone. Live as a child of God, because that is what you are. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my husband, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 31–32; 1 John 4 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today we journey through Jeremiah 31–32 and 1 John 4. Jeremiah announces God's promise of restoration and a new covenant, one written not merely on tablets or pages but upon the human heart. Then John declares that God is love and that perfect love drives out fear. Today's devotion invites us to awaken to the new work God has accomplished in Christ. We have not merely been repaired or given another set of rules to follow. Through Jesus, we have been reconciled, given a new heart, and drawn into the life and love of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: A new covenant. A new heart. A new hope. Jeremiah speaks of a coming day when God will do something entirely new. The covenant will no longer be written only on tablets of stone or expressed through external laws and rituals. God says, "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts." The life the covenant called for would finally be lived in perfection, not by us, but by Jesus. Jesus, the spotless Lamb, lived the life of faithful love and obedience that Israel and all humanity had failed to live. Through his self-giving life, death, and resurrection, he reconciled us, weary and wandering exiles, back to God. God does not simply patch up the old life. He makes all things new. He takes the hardened heart of Adam and gives humanity a new heart, a heart formed for fellowship, communion, and love. Where shame, guilt, condemnation, and fear once ruled, God plants new hope. This is not something we accomplish for ourselves. It is something God has done through Christ because of his everlasting love. John says it plainly: God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. God's perfect love has made a way for us to live free from condemnation, shame, and fear. As we abide in that love and participate in the life of Christ, we are transformed. We begin to love as we have been loved. Fear gradually loses its grip because perfect love drives out fear. This is the good news of the new covenant. God's love has not simply been announced to us from a distance. It has been written upon our hearts. His life is present within us, giving us a new identity, purpose, and hope. Awaken to that reality today. You are not abandoned. You are not condemned. You have been drawn into the life of the One who is love. That's the prayer I have for my own soul, that I would live in this love and allow it to drive out fear, condemnation, shame, and guilt. I pray that for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence.” ~Georg Simmel (1858-1918), German sociologist, philosopher, and critic “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”~Elizabeth Elliot (1926-2015), missionary, author, and speaker “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”~Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983), Dutch survivor of a Nazi death camp “The condition of the Psalmist's mind was complex—he feared, but that fear did not fill the whole area of his mind.... It is possible, then, for fear and faith to occupy the mind at the same moment. We are strange beings, and our experience in the divine life is stranger still. We are often in a twilight, where light and darkness are both present and it is hard to tell which predominates. It is a blessed fear which drives us to trust. Unregenerate fear drives from God, gracious fear drives to him.”~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London pastor “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.”~Reported to be the last words of Perpetua (c.182-c.203), a 22-year-old noblewoman and new mother, killed for her Christian faith in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) “Loving God—really loving Him—means living out His commands no matter what the cost.”~Charles Colson (1931-2012), attorney, political advisor, convicted felon, advocate for prison reform, and midlife convert to Christ “…reason is not king in human beings, the heart is. Therefore, to change your actions, you must change your desires. But your desires will change, only if the Holy Spirit who wrote the Bible also writes his laws on your heart.”~John Ashley Null, theologian at Humboldt University Berlin and North African Bishop “The faith of the church must be tried by God's word, and not God's word by the church; neither yet my faith.”~Jane Grey (1537-1554), English noblewoman and very brief de facto monarch of EnglandSERMON PASSAGEPsalm 56 (ESV)To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.10 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise,11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.1 Samuel 21 10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?” 12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
Loving God With All Your MindBarry Howard
"Loving God, Loving People!"
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 28–30; 1 John 3 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today's readings take us through Jeremiah 28–30 and 1 John 3. Jeremiah confronts false promises while offering God's genuine word of restoration and hope to people living in exile. Then John invites us to behold the extraordinary love of the Father, who calls us his children. Today's devotion asks us to consider what we see when we look at our lives. Do we see only sin, regret, shame, and failure, or can we allow the love of God revealed in Jesus to reframe our vision? TODAY'S DEVOTION: What do you see when you look at your life? Do you see your sin? Your regrets? Your past? Your shame? Sometimes these things can grow so large in our vision that we struggle to see anything else. We begin to imagine that our failures tell us the deepest truth about who we are. But John urges us to look again. This time, he directs our attention away from ourselves and toward the love of God. "See how very much our Father loves us," John says, "for he calls us his children." What we behold makes a difference in who we become. When we fix our eyes only on failure and shame, we become increasingly shaped by fear, condemnation, and regret. But when we behold God's love, we begin to see ourselves through the truth revealed in Christ. You are a child of God. This identity is not grounded in your success, religious performance, feelings, or ability to maintain confidence. It rests upon the steadfast character of God and the finished work of Jesus. You did not earn your way into the family. Love has been bestowed upon you. Seeing yourself through the lens of this love begins to transform everything. You are freed from the lies of guilt and shame and invited to live as someone deeply and securely loved. And when we know ourselves as beloved, we become free to love others. So let the Word reframe your vision today. Look again. Do not allow your worst moment to become the final interpretation of your life. Behold the love of God. Behold Jesus. See yourself as the Father sees you, as his child, held and enfolded in love. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:1 NLT) The psalmist wrote, “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1 NLT). That may come as quite a surprise to people who fail to see the connection between following instructions and joy. Many unbelievers—and believers—have a hard time getting past the “Thou shalt nots” of God’s commandments. They see God as a cosmic killjoy whose primary interaction with humankind is to legislate through His Word the complete elimination of fun and excitement. This isn’t just an accidental misunderstanding of our heavenly Father; it’s the result of a calculated strategy. Look at the serpent’s first words to Eve in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT). He played on her FOMO—fear of missing out—before she was even aware that she had such a fear. The serpent caused her to see God’s command, His only command, as something ponderous and restrictive. And the stigma remains. So, we need to make this clear: People who see the Bible and the Christian life as little more than a list of rules and regulations have not carefully examined Scripture. Yes, God tells us what to avoid. Yes, He warns us of things that are perilous to our spiritual health. At the same time, however, God tells us what to engage in. He reveals to us what will push the buttons of joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction that He installed in us. For example, in 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle Paul writes, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts” (NLT). But then he follows it up with this: “Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (NLT). What an appealing invitation! What potential for life-changing growth, joy, and fulfillment! Believers who merely try to avoid what is evil are missing the point. Loving God isn’t just about what not to do. It’s also about what to do. If you want to be a truly joyful and holy person, you not only should avoid what is wrong, but you should embrace and actively engage in what is right. That’s what walking with the Lord is about. It involves progression, moving forward, rather than sitting still. In Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he writes, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14 NLT). Each one of those things represents forward progress. Paul gives clear commands, and we apply them faithfully in the particular situations God places before us. If we focus only on the “Thou shalt not” commandments of Scripture, we’ll miss those opportunities. Reflection question: Which positive instructions in Scripture will you prioritize this week? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 21; 24; 27; Psalm 118; 1 John 2 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today we journey through Jeremiah 21, 24, and 27, Psalm 118, and 1 John 2. Jeremiah speaks to people facing exile, upheaval, and the collapse of the world they once knew. Psalm 118 calls us to take refuge in the steadfast love of God, while 1 John warns against becoming consumed by the cravings of the world. Today's devotion considers how the endless pursuit of pleasure, possessions, recognition, and achievement leaves us empty. Christ offers another way, a life that moves beyond the self and finds lasting meaning through humble love, service, generosity, and communion with God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Cravings. We all have them. The world stirs up cravings for physical pleasure, possessions, pride, recognition, and achievement. But cravings are never satisfied for long. They always demand more. When we build our lives around them, we become stuck in an endless cycle. We crave, consume, experience a moment of satisfaction, and then find ourselves empty again. The more we crave, the more hollow life can become. John points us toward another way, one made possible by the presence of Christ within us. Because Christ lives in you, you are not trapped inside a life centered entirely on yourself. You can participate in a life that moves beyond self-indulgence toward love, service, generosity, joy, and meaning. The life of Christ breaks the cycle of craving, emptiness, shame, and despair. And Christ's life in us is not always expressed through dramatic or spectacular accomplishments. More often, it appears through ordinary acts of love. Being kind. Sharing with someone in need. Listening carefully. Encouraging another person's gifts. Offering your own gifts without needing recognition. Choosing humility over pride. These small and common expressions of love are signs of the life of Christ working within us. This is where true satisfaction is found, not in feeding every desire, but in participating in the self-giving life of Jesus. The cravings of the world may be strong, but something far stronger is available to you. Christ in you, your hope and your glory. May you find your satisfaction in him today. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Jeremiah 48–49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. John says this with beautiful simplicity. There is no shadow in God. There are no hidden motives or dark intentions concealed somewhere behind his goodness. God is light. And John insists that he has seen this light with his own eyes and touched him with his own hands. In Jesus, the nature of God has been revealed. Yet many of us have learned to imagine that there are two sides to God. We hear that God is loving, but he is also just. God is merciful, but he is also holy. These statements can leave us with the impression that love and holiness are competing qualities, as though there is a darker side of God that Jesus protects us from. But Jesus is not the good cop standing between us and an angry Father. Jesus reveals the Father. Everything that flows from God, including his holiness, righteousness, correction, and judgment, flows from perfect light and love. There is nothing hiding behind the back of Jesus. This means we do not have to be afraid of bringing our darkness into God's light. Bring the brokenness. Bring the sin. Bring the shame. Bring the confusion and fear. God's light does not expose us in order to humiliate or destroy us. His light exposes in order to forgive, transform, heal, and restore us to fellowship. There may still be darkness in us, but there is no darkness in him. Our darkness does not alter the character of God. So let us step out of the shadows. Let us allow Jesus to show us who God truly is and, in doing so, to show us who we are becoming in him. May we learn the ways of shadow-free believing and shadow-free living. May the light and love of God dissolve our fear and shame and teach us to see ourselves and others in the light of Christ. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 45–47; Psalm 105; John 21 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today we journey through Jeremiah 45–47, Psalm 105, and John 21. Jeremiah speaks into uncertainty, judgment, exile, and fear. Psalm 105 calls us to remember God's enduring faithfulness. Then, in John 21, we encounter the risen Jesus beside the sea, preparing breakfast for his disciples and restoring Peter after the anguish of his denial. Peter may see himself as weak, ashamed, and disqualified, but Jesus sees something more. He sees Peter as loved, forgiven, and capable of feeding and caring for others. Today's episode invites us to allow Christ's love to reshape the way we see our failures, ourselves, and the people around us. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Love is rooted in God. God is love's source and origin. His love is not created by our response, our prayers, our attitudes, or the work we do for him. God loves because God is love. Peter has failed terribly. He denied Jesus three times. He abandoned the courage and loyalty he believed he possessed. I imagine that Peter carried a mountain of shame after that night. He may have seen himself as a fraud, a coward, and a failure. But the risen Jesus comes looking for Peter. Jesus prepares a meal for him. He sits with him. And three times, Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" Jesus is not trying to shame Peter. He is chipping away at all the false ways Peter has come to understand himself. Peter sees his failure, but Jesus sees Peter's true life, hidden with God in Christ. Peter is loved. Peter is forgiven. Peter belongs to Christ. The rock Peter will become is quarried from the rock who is Christ himself. Peter's identity is not rooted in the worst thing he has done. His identity is rooted in Christ. Then Jesus tells him, "Feed my sheep." In other words, Peter must learn to see in others what Christ has already seen in him. The sheep will also fail. They will be afraid. They will hide. They will carry guilt and shame. Peter is to feed them with the gospel he himself has received. You are loved. You are forgiven. You belong to Christ. And now, enough about Peter. Let's talk about you. Maybe your failures have framed the way you see your life. Maybe shame has become the lens through which you understand yourself. But Jesus sees something in you that you may be struggling to see. Your real life is hidden with God in Christ. You are already loved. You are already forgiven. You are already being restored. Let Christ chip away at everything that keeps you from seeing what he sees. Then offer that same love to the frightened, ashamed, and wounded people you encounter today. Feed his sheep. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 26; 35–36; John 20 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today is August 18th, and we are continuing our journey through the Scriptures with Jeremiah 26, 35–36, and John 20. In Jeremiah, we encounter a king who attempts to silence God's message by cutting apart and burning the prophet's scroll. Yet the Word cannot be destroyed. What is burned is written again, and even more is added. Then, in John 20, we witness the resurrection of Jesus. The Living Word, rejected and crucified, emerges from the tomb in victory. Today's readings remind us that neither human opposition, fire, violence, nor death can extinguish the purposes of God. What appears to have been reduced to ashes becomes the beginning of abundant life. Settle in, open your heart, and let us listen together for the living Word of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The Word cannot be extinguished. In Jeremiah, we see the king take the scroll containing God's Word, cut it apart, and throw it into the fire. He believes that by destroying the scroll, he can silence its message. But the king can burn the pages without destroying the Word. God tells Jeremiah to write it again. And this time, even more is added. Out of the ashes, the Word returns. It is rewritten, restored, and reaffirmed. Human resistance cannot stop what God is doing. The king may burn the scroll, but he cannot extinguish its source or frustrate its purpose. Then we turn to John's Gospel and see the powers of darkness attempting to extinguish God's Living Word, Jesus Christ. They condemn him, crucify him, and consign his body to a grave. They believe that the story is finished. But the cross and the grave cannot stop God. Jesus enters fully into the fire of human judgment, violence, suffering, and death. Yet none of these things can hold him. He emerges from the tomb as the resurrection and the life. What looked like an ending becomes a new beginning. What appeared to be defeat becomes victory. What had been reduced to ashes gives way to abundant life. Jesus entered the fire and passed through death so that we might be brought into the much more of his life. He invites us to leave behind the ashes of despair, shame, fear, and defeat and awaken to resurrection hope. The Word cannot be extinguished. The life of Christ cannot be overcome. And because his life is now at work in us, our failures and losses do not have the final word either. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May we rise from the ashes and enter more fully into the abundant life of Christ. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
We desire to love God above all else but we so often fall short. Emma and Rosemary chat about the key to putting God first is becoming passionate about Him. From here the desires of our heart to follow Him help us to take practical steps in putting God first.
Today we conclude our sermon series "Ordinary." Pastor Vance shares a sermon "Loving God" referencing scripture 1 John 4:7-21.While you worship online, we invite you to fill out a connection card. This card is not only a way for us to connect with you but also an opportunity for you to share any prayer requests you may have: firstchurchorlando.org/connection-cardGiving: firstchurchorlando.org/give-nowMissed a past service? Check out our YouTube Channel for past services or you can find our Podcast wherever you podcast from.Like and Subscribe for more First Church content.Want to know more about First Church? Visit our website at firstchurchorlando.org
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 23–25; John 19 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today is August 17th, and Heather is guiding us through Jeremiah 23–25 and John 19. In Jeremiah, we hear sobering warnings against false shepherds and prophets who have misled God's people. Jeremiah is commanded to carry a cup of judgment to the nations, revealing the destructive consequences of violence, idolatry, injustice, and oppression. Then, in John 19, we encounter another cup. Jesus stands before the powers of religion and empire and willingly enters into the suffering of the cross. He takes into himself the hatred, violence, betrayal, and brokenness of the world, not to return violence for violence, but to overcome it through self-giving love. Today's devotion invites us to consider the story of these two cups. Jesus drinks the cup of human sorrow and wrath completely, declaring, "It is finished." In its place, he offers us the cup of his own life, filled with reconciliation, forgiveness, hope, and joy. Settle in, open your heart, and let us listen together for the living Word of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It's a story of two cups. In our reading from Jeremiah today, the prophet is commanded to take a cup to the nations. It is a cup filled with wrath and judgment, intended for every nation and empire of the world. The message is weighty and sobering. Jeremiah speaks of judgment against the evil, darkness, idolatry, violence, and oppression that have been poured out across the earth. Nation after nation, king after king, is called to drink from this cup. Their power will be shattered, and their lands will be left desolate. The seriousness of evil and the reality of God's justice are on full display. This cup of wrath cannot simply be ignored. But then we turn to John 19, and we see another cup. This time, the cup is pressed into the hands of Jesus. It is a cup filled with the senseless wrath of the crowd, the cold wrath of religion, and the merciless wrath of empire. It overflows with the violence, hatred, fear, and brokenness of humanity. Yet, to our astonishment, God himself steps forward and willingly drinks from this cup. Jesus absorbs into his own body all that is evil: every act of betrayal, every wound, every accusation, every expression of hatred, and every shadow of despair. He takes it into himself, and through his self-giving love, he overcomes it all. He does not respond to violence with greater violence. He does not answer hatred with hatred. He receives the worst that the powers of this world can offer, and he exhausts their power through forgiveness, mercy, and love. Jesus vanquishes not only the cup of wrath, but death itself. In doing so, he draws humanity into the life and love that he shares with the Father and the Spirit. On the cross, Jesus declares, "It is finished." The cup is fully drained. And in its place, he offers us another cup, the cup of his own life. It is reconciliation for our separation, hope for our despair, forgiveness for our failures, and love for our hatred. Through Christ, we are drawn into a new story. It is not a story ruled by wrath, violence, accusation, and death. It is the story of life restored, humanity reconciled, and creation made whole. That is the cup offered to you and me. It is the cup of grace, forgiveness, thanksgiving, and joy. He drank the cup of our sorrows so that we might lift up the cup of salvation. Today, may we remember these two cups. Let us set down the old cup of our failures, fears, shame, and guilt. Let us lift high the cup of Christ's love and victory. Let us live in the light of what Jesus has accomplished, knowing that he has drawn us into his own life. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May we taste and see the goodness of God, and may our lives overflow with gratitude and love. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey through the Scriptures together, one day at a time. In today's episode, we begin with the turbulent days of Judah's exile in 2 Kings 24, followed by Jeremiah's passionate call for justice and covenant faithfulness in chapter 22. We find encouragement and wisdom in Psalm 112, celebrating the blessings of those who walk in God's ways. Our journey culminates in John 18, as we witness the arrest and trial of Jesus and are confronted with a powerful choice between two very different Jesuses: Jesus Barabbas, the insurrectionist, and Jesus the Messiah, who offers a radically different, self-giving way. We are invited to reflect on which Jesus we choose to follow, not only in theory, but in the real, daily choices of our lives. The episode closes with time for silent reflection, heartfelt prayers for peace and unity, and the reminder that we are all held in the steadfast love of God. So settle in as we read, meditate, and pray together, seeking to know, trust, and embody the way of Jesus, the One who is love. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Choosing Jesus Two Jesuses stand before the crowd. Pilate offers them a choice: Jesus the Messiah or Jesus Barabbas, the insurrectionist. One is an agent of violence and revolt, seeking to overthrow his enemies by force. The other is the true King, the One who tells his followers to put away their swords, who chooses the path of suffering love, and who proclaims a kingdom that is not of this world. This is the radical contrast at the heart of today's reading. Jesus does not call us to rise up in violence, grasp for power, or secure our future by worldly means. He calls us instead to the self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering way of the cross. His is a kingdom that is wholly other. It is marked not by domination or fear, but by resurrection life born out of sacrifice and love. The crowd was tempted, and we are too, to choose the easier way, the seemingly practical way. We hear the voices: "The Jesus way isn't realistic. That's not how the world works." Even Scripture can be twisted to justify choosing Barabbas instead of the true King. It is telling that the Bible people of Jesus' day stirred up the crowd to choose the wrong messiah. But Jesus stands before us today, as he did before Pilate, offering us another kind of kingdom. He invites us into a life marked not by winning at any cost, but by loving self-sacrificially. He invites us out of the cycles of the world's kingdoms, out of violence, revenge, fear, and self-interest, and into his new and living way. This is the only way out. It is the only way forward. And it is a daily choice. Will we embrace the self-giving, radically forgiving way of Jesus, or find reasons to excuse ourselves from it? Will we choose the suffering, self-emptying King, or will we choose another Barabbas? Today, I choose what the crowd did not. I choose Jesus. I choose the path he has shown, the way of surrender, trust, forgiveness, and love. I choose his truth. I choose his life. I choose the God who is love. That is the prayer I have for my own soul. That is the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that is the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
What is The Church meant to be? A people of repentance, renewal and mission. Loving God. Loving Each Other. Loving the World. The story of the church isn't over. We're part of what God is still writing.
"Loving God, Loving People!"
We are called to love God with all our heart, mind and strength. In this Heartbeat Emma helps us to reflect on our own lives and whether we are loving God above everything.
Loving God...Loving the Church...Loving Our Community and the World
Loving God...Loving the Church...Loving Our Community and the World
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 18–20; Psalm 93; John 17 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today is August 15th, and we are on day 228 of our journey through the Scriptures. Our readings take us through Jeremiah 18–20, Psalm 93, and John 17. In Jeremiah, we enter the workshop of the potter, where the prophet watches clay being shaped and reshaped in the potter's hands. It is an image of God's patient and purposeful work among his people. Even when the clay is marred, the potter does not abandon it. He continues working, forming something new according to his wisdom and love. Jeremiah also speaks honestly about the cost of his calling. He experiences opposition, rejection, and deep discouragement. His prayers do not hide his anguish, but even in his struggle, the word of God remains alive within him, like a fire he cannot contain. Psalm 93 declares that the Lord reigns. His throne is established, his power is greater than the roaring seas, and his promises can be trusted. Then, in John 17, we listen as Jesus prays. He prays for his disciples, and he prays for all those who will come to believe through their witness. That means Jesus is praying for us. He asks the Father to protect us, sanctify us in the truth, and bring us into the same love and unity that he shares with the Father. Today's readings invite us to trust the hands of the Potter, rest beneath the reign of God, and receive the prayer of Jesus over our lives. We are being formed, we are being held, and we are being drawn into the love and life of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Jeremiah 16–17; Psalm 96; John 16 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! Today is August 14th, and we are on day 227 of our journey through the Scriptures. Our readings take us through Jeremiah 16–17, Psalm 96, and John 16. In Jeremiah, we hear both the weight of judgment and the promise of restoration. We are reminded of the emptiness of trusting only in human strength and invited instead to become like a tree planted beside the water, rooted deeply in the faithfulness of God. Psalm 96 calls the whole earth to sing a new song and proclaim the goodness of the Lord. Then, in John 16, Jesus prepares his disciples for what lies ahead. He speaks honestly about grief, opposition, and uncertainty, but he also promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate who will guide them into truth. Jesus does not promise that his disciples will avoid trouble. He tells them plainly that they will face it. But he also assures them that trouble will not have the final word. "Take heart," he says, "because I have overcome the world." Whatever you may be carrying today, may these readings remind you that you are not alone. The Spirit of God is present, Christ has overcome, and your life can remain rooted in the love and faithfulness of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 10–12; John 14 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible-in-a-year podcast with 20-minute Scripture readings, Christ-centered devotion, and guided prayer. This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this 12th day of August, we journey through Jeremiah 10–12 and John 14 with Hunter, your Bible reading coach. In Jeremiah, we encounter the folly of idols, the faithfulness of the living God, and the prophet's struggle to understand what God is doing in the midst of injustice and suffering. Then, in John 14, Jesus draws his disciples into some of the deepest mysteries of our faith, revealing his union with the Father and promising the coming presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet amid these profound mysteries, Jesus gives his disciples something remarkably simple: follow me. There is so much about God, life, and faith that we may not fully understand, but we are not required to have everything figured out before we walk with Christ. We are invited to trust his presence, receive his peace, and go where he leads. Today's devotion reminds us that faith is not ultimately about mastering every mystery, but about learning to hear the voice of Jesus and respond when he says, "Come, let's be going." TODAY'S DEVOTION: There are some things about God that are simply beyond us. In John 14, Jesus is speaking to his disciples about some of the deepest mysteries imaginable. He tells them that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. He tells them that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will come and live within them. He tells them that somehow, through the Spirit, they will participate in this life and love that exists between the Father and the Son. That's a lot to take in. And you can almost feel Thomas and Philip trying to keep up. They want more explanation. They want Jesus to slow things down and make everything clearer. Thomas says, essentially, "We don't even know where you're going." Philip says, "Just show us the Father and we'll be satisfied." I understand that impulse. I think most of us do. There are so many things about faith that we want explained. There are mysteries we want solved and questions we want answered. We want greater clarity about God, about ourselves, about suffering, about the future, about what God is doing in our lives. But Jesus doesn't give his disciples a theological diagram that explains everything. Instead, he gives them himself. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled. He promises them his peace. He promises the Spirit. He reminds them that they are not being abandoned. And then, at the end of the chapter, he says something remarkably ordinary and practical: "Come, let's be going." Come. Follow me. There is something beautiful about that. The mysteries are still mysteries. The disciples still don't understand everything. But Jesus is with them, and for now that is enough. They can follow him. And maybe that is enough for us today too. You don't have to understand everything before you follow Jesus. You don't have to solve every theological question or make sense of every circumstance in your life. There are things we may understand later that we simply cannot understand now. But we can hear his voice. We can receive his peace. We can trust the Spirit who lives within us. And we can follow. Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The way is not simply information about God. The way is a person. And as we follow him, we begin to experience the life he has promised us. We discover his peace, his strength, his joy, and his presence along the way. So maybe today, instead of demanding an answer to every mystery, we can simply listen for the invitation of Jesus: Come, let's be going. Follow me. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL You are loved!
Episode Description Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 10–12; John 14 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible-in-a-year podcast with 20-minute Scripture readings, Christ-centered devotion, and guided prayer. This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this 12th day of August, we journey through Jeremiah 10–12 and John 14 with Hunter, your Bible reading coach. In Jeremiah, we encounter the folly of idols, the faithfulness of the living God, and the prophet's struggle to understand what God is doing in the midst of injustice and suffering. Then, in John 14, Jesus draws his disciples into some of the deepest mysteries of our faith, revealing his union with the Father and promising the coming presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet amid these profound mysteries, Jesus gives his disciples something remarkably simple: follow me. There is so much about God, life, and faith that we may not fully understand, but we are not required to have everything figured out before we walk with Christ. We are invited to trust his presence, receive his peace, and go where he leads. Today's devotion reminds us that faith is not ultimately about mastering every mystery, but about learning to hear the voice of Jesus and respond when he says, "Come, let's be going." TODAY'S DEVOTION: There are some things about God that are simply beyond us. In John 14, Jesus is speaking to his disciples about some of the deepest mysteries imaginable. He tells them that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. He tells them that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will come and live within them. He tells them that somehow, through the Spirit, they will participate in this life and love that exists between the Father and the Son. That's a lot to take in. And you can almost feel Thomas and Philip trying to keep up. They want more explanation. They want Jesus to slow things down and make everything clearer. Thomas says, essentially, "We don't even know where you're going." Philip says, "Just show us the Father and we'll be satisfied." I understand that impulse. I think most of us do. There are so many things about faith that we want explained. There are mysteries we want solved and questions we want answered. We want greater clarity about God, about ourselves, about suffering, about the future, about what God is doing in our lives. But Jesus doesn't give his disciples a theological diagram that explains everything. Instead, he gives them himself. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled. He promises them his peace. He promises the Spirit. He reminds them that they are not being abandoned. And then, at the end of the chapter, he says something remarkably ordinary and practical: "Come, let's be going." Come. Follow me. There is something beautiful about that. The mysteries are still mysteries. The disciples still don't understand everything. But Jesus is with them, and for now that is enough. They can follow him. And maybe that is enough for us today too. You don't have to understand everything before you follow Jesus. You don't have to solve every theological question or make sense of every circumstance in your life. There are things we may understand later that we simply cannot understand now. But we can hear his voice. We can receive his peace. We can trust the Spirit who lives within us. And we can follow. Jesus says that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The way is not simply information about God. The way is a person. And as we follow him, we begin to experience the life he has promised us. We discover his peace, his strength, his joy, and his presence along the way. So maybe today, instead of demanding an answer to every mystery, we can simply listen for the invitation of Jesus: Come, let's be going. Follow me. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL You are loved!
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 7–9; John 13 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this 11th day of August, we journey through the pages of Jeremiah 7-9 and John 13, guided by Hunter, your Bible reading coach. Together, we'll listen to God's words of warning and hope to His people through Jeremiah, reflecting on the call to obedience, repentance, and authentic worship. Then, we'll witness Jesus' act of humble service as He washes His disciples' feet, teaching us the importance of humility, love, and allowing ourselves to be cared for by Christ. As we seek renewal and realignment in our walk with God, today's reading and reflections will encourage us to receive His grace, lean into communion with Him, and extend love to others in the same spirit that Christ serves us. Settle in, open your heart, and let's draw near to the Living Word together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: You have to get washed, and he has to wash you. You have to humbly accept Jesus's care over your life as he washes your feet. If you don't, Jesus says, you're going to miss him. You're not going to get him; you won't understand what he's all about. There's a difference between union and communion. Peter and the twelve were united with Christ; they were one with him. But just like you and I, their feet got dirty because they walk in a world that is fallen and broken and dirty. Journeying through this life takes a toll on us, and our souls need to be drawn in over and over again to our life with him. We need to be realigned, renewed, refreshed. We need to be washed. We need to come into communion with him again. So Jesus insists on cleaning our feet. When he cleans our feet, he's reminding us of who we are in him. You are his daughter. You are his son. You are one with him. Jesus insists on caring for us throughout our lives, washing our feet, reminding us of the intimate care and grace that's offered to us each and every day. It's a humbling thing for someone to wash our feet, but our souls are in need of the humbling reality of Christ serving us. Our pride, like Peter's, wants to rise up and demand otherwise. "You'll never wash my feet," says Peter. The flesh, our pride, always refuses, but the presence of Christ humbles us and teaches us. In this moment, he teaches us who we are and what we are to become. We are chosen. We are in him. We have union with God, and we are to participate with him as servants of God. There is union and there is communion. Our union has been forged through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ—Christ alone. Our communion is where we participate with him in who we now have become and join in on what he is now doing today. He continues to wash us even through this word, through what we're doing here right now. You may not have noticed this, but while we were hearing the word today, something else was happening, if you will. Christ was serving you, washing your feet. Ephesians 5 says we are washed by the cleansing of the Word. He's washing our feet as we listen to and respond to his word each day. Jesus says to you what he said to Peter: Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. The water of God's word washing our feet is going to be a part of our life together from here on out. Don't let your pride and flesh stand in the way of Christ serving you. And maybe next time when you come to the word, envision Jesus, the Creator of all things, washing your feet. Let it be a reminder to you that you are one with him and that we need him to renew, to restore, to clean us, and that we are loved. And let that love move beyond you into the world to others, so that you can love the way he loved and served you. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Jeremiah 3–4; John 11 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible for August 10th. On day 223 of our journey through scripture, Hunter guides us through powerful passages from Jeremiah chapters 5 and 6, and John chapter 12. We witness a sobering call to repentance for God's people, a prophetic warning against their rebellion, and a vibrant scene of devotion as Mary anoints Jesus' feet. Together, we'll reflect on the deep contrasts between selfishness and sacrificial love, and Hunter will lead us in prayer, gratitude, and encouragement as we seek to let the fragrance of Christ fill our lives. Join us as we draw closer to the heart of God and one another. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The fragrance of new life. When Mary walked into that room, she carried with her more than just an expensive jar of perfume. She brought the memory of her brother Lazarus—dead, buried, and then called out of the tomb by Jesus—back to life. There was a smell to that old grave that she could never forget, yet compared to the aroma of God's love—God's power to call forth life—nothing else could come close. The fragrance of resurrection and hope filled the house as Mary poured herself out in thanksgiving and love at the feet of Jesus. But there are always other scents in the room—unseen, powerful, disruptive. For Judas, the only thing he could smell was his own ambition, his own love of money and self. The stench of his own flesh overpowered any sense of the grace and beauty right before him. The opportunity for devotion slipped by, traded for coins. John tells us this story because he wants us to catch that fragrance again: Christ calls us from death to life. In every act of gratitude, every offering of ourselves, we participate in the sweet aroma of Jesus. When we live in response to his love, when we pour ourselves out at his feet, the room changes. The world takes notice—not of our goodness, but of the beauty of his gift and life within us. So let us receive the offering of Christ's life, let gratitude fill our hearts, and let the fragrance of new life fill every space we enter. May we offer all we have—not for the sake of appearance or reward, but because we have been made alive. Christ has called us forth, unbound us, and given us his own life. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, and my daughters, and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Loving God just for the virtue of loving Him.
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 3–4; John 11 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible for August 9th. It's Day 222 in our journey through the Scriptures. Today, your Bible reading coach Hunter invites you to join a global community as we read Jeremiah chapters 3 and 4, followed by John chapter 11. Together, we'll see God's faithfulness and mercy in the midst of Israel's unfaithfulness, and witness Jesus' miraculous power as he raises Lazarus from the dead. Along the way, we'll reflect on our own brokenness, the hope we have in Christ's resurrection life, and pray for God's peace, guidance, and presence to fill our lives anew. So grab your Bible, get outside if you can, and let's walk through the Word together—one step at a time. TODAY'S DEVOTION: We need a better twin. Thomas, in those moments near the tomb of Lazarus, was full of good intentions and bold declarations. "Let's go too and die with Jesus," he said. But Thomas had to learn, like all of us do, that the best intentions and loudest proclamations do not overcome the reality of our brokenness, our captivity to the flesh, and the certainty of the grave. Our best efforts can't save us; we need someone who can do for us what we cannot do ourselves. What we need is a twin superior to Thomas—a brother who will go before us, triumph over death, and reconcile us to God. We need someone who calls us out from the shadows of our old lives and into something altogether new. We need a brother who has emerged from the grave and draws us into his resurrection life. We need Jesus. And that is precisely who we have. Thomas, uncertain as he was, would eventually come to see that Jesus truly is the friend who sticks closer than a brother, closer even than a twin. Jesus, our brother, is the one who overcomes our brokenness, our slavery, our inevitable end in the grave. He does what we cannot: he calls us by name and invites us out of the tomb, into the light, and into his life. The prayer of my heart today is that I will truly see, understand, and experience what Christ has done—that I will participate, now and always, in his risen life. To come out from the grave clothes and step freely into the new life Jesus offers. Jesus is our brother. Because of him, the grave is not the end; new life has already begun, and it is ours. That's my prayer for my own soul. That's my prayer for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And that is my prayer for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 1–2; John 10 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible for August 8th! Join Hunter as we journey through Day 221 of our year-long trek in the Scriptures. Today, we'll read from Jeremiah chapters 1 and 2, hearing the prophet's calling and the challenging words spoken to a wandering people, and then turn to John 10, where Jesus reveals himself as the Good Shepherd who calls his sheep by name and offers them abundant life. In this episode, you'll be invited to reflect on God's story of rescue, experience encouragement for your day, and join in heartfelt prayers for yourself, your loved ones, and the world. Whether you're a long-time listener or tuning in for the first time, settle in as we open our hearts to the living Word and discover what it means to follow the Good Shepherd today. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The story of God. I hope this story of God catches you. Jesus comes to teach us how to live in God's story. It's the story of a good and loving shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He invites us to live in that story. He tells us very plainly here that he gathers his sheep. He gathers them in through the gate and brings them into his sheepfold. He rescues the sheep from danger, and he brings them under his care. Then he calls out the sheep from the sheepfold by name. He knows them by name. We're told that he walks ahead of the sheep, leading them out into the world. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They run from any other voice because they've learned to depend on the shepherd. He says, my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. Just like sheep, the shepherd Jesus is our source of life. He's rescued us, called us out into the world by name, and gifted us. So we walk out with the shepherd, letting him lead us each step of the way. Jesus is teaching us in this story how to live in his story of life, abundant life, to participate with him. In this story of rescue, there's danger. There's a thief that wants to steal and kill and destroy the flock. And when we learn to live in the story of God, by the power of God, we will experience deliverance from this thief who wants to kill us. And it will be the Good Shepherd who delivers and protects us. And because of him, we will experience a rich and satisfying life under his care. Jesus says, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundant. He wants us to learn how to live there. And the only way we can is to gather under his care, hear him call us out by name into the world with purpose, understanding what he's made us for, We must learn to depend on him each step of the way as he leads us, following his voice each day, training our souls to hear him, because he is a good shepherd who has laid down his life for us, who knows us by name. He's called us out into this pasture, this world, and he's given us purpose. We are invited to participate with The Good Shepherd, sharing his message of abundant life. You and I are invited into the story of God. Rejoice in him today, our Good Shepherd. Listen to his voice and follow him out into your day, out into this world, sharing his message of life. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Zephaniah 1–3; John 9 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey together through the pages of Scripture and warm our hearts by the fires of God's love. In today's episode, join Hunter, your Bible reading coach, as we explore Zephaniah chapters 1 through 3 and John chapter 9. We'll witness God's call to repentance and restoration, the powerful healing of a man born blind, and reflect on how Jesus—the light of the world—opens our eyes to God's true nature of love and mercy. Settle in for a time of prayer, encouragement, and renewed perspective as we remember that we are God's beloved children, invited to walk in His joy and peace each day. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He opens our eyes to see who God really is. What was God going to do with a human race that's incapable of seeing? God, being good, came in person to shine his light into our darkness. The light of the world stood before a blind man, took the dust of the earth, spit upon it, and remade what was once incapable of sight. God's power was shown in this healing—this man truly saw the light. And yet there is still so much that keeps us all in the dark. Lies imprison us—even good Christian folks. Lies about God: that we are separate from him, that he is distant and angry, ready to strike because of our past, eager to judge us or our parents, ready to make an example of us. Blinded to the true nature of God, we've convinced ourselves he is mainly about retribution instead of restoration, that he is primarily a judge instead of a Father. So often, even our religion blinds us to who God really is. We paint all our fears and anxieties onto the face of God, and so we do not see—even when the light is right in front of us. Are you tired of the darkness? Let Jesus open your eyes to who God truly is. Remember the words to Philip: Show us the Father and we will be satisfied. And Jesus answered, "Philip, have I been with you all this time, and you still don't know me? When you see me, you see the Father. I and my Father are one." There is no shadow side behind Jesus. Do you see him reaching out and healing those others think are cursed and condemned? Do you see him loving the poor, the unlovely, the outsider? Do you see his self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love? Then what you see is what you've got: you've got the light of the world. Let Jesus open your eyes to who God is and who you already are in him. Let him show you. Let him open your eyes and see. That's a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Habakkuk 1–3; John 8 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we journey together through the pages of Scripture to discover the heart and life of God. On this August 6th episode, we delve into the powerful words of the prophet Habakkuk, wrestling with questions of suffering, justice, and God's plan in the midst of turmoil. We'll also explore John 8, where Jesus' radical mercy is on display as he offers forgiveness to a woman caught in adultery and powerfully declares himself the light of the world. Join Hunter, your Bible Reading Coach, for a time of spiritual reflection, encouragement, and prayer as we seek to encounter the living Word and remember the truth of God's deep love for each of us. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Who are you? That was the question so many demanded an answer for. The people who encountered Jesus—some were fearful of who he might be, others were threatened by his claims, and many simply could not see him for who he truly was. Sometimes it's not just a matter of not seeing, but of not being ready to listen to Jesus's answer to that deepest question. Sometimes lies—lies that fuel our fears, that feed our pride, that cast the face of God in the shadow of our own anxieties—keep us from receiving the healing that awaits us. Lies can blind our hearts, closing us off from the truth that is standing right before us. So what did God do, seeing humanity caught in the darkness of deceit and estrangement? He came. He came in love and showed us the way of love—self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. Jesus says, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will know that I am he… I do nothing on my own but only what the Father has taught me." When we look at the one lifted up on the cross, we see the answer to the question, "Who are you?" We see what the woman caught in adultery saw—the one who stoops into the dust of our shame and brokenness to write something new, the one who does not condemn but comes to save, for we were already condemned. We see the one who will take away the sin of the world, the one who has included us into the life he shares with the Father. When we see him, our hearts are invited to listen—to truly hear the answer. The prayer of my soul today is that I will hear Jesus's answer to the question, "Who are you?" That when I look at the cross, I will see love. Because that's who he is. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, for my daughters, and for my son. And that is the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation. Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL