Podcasts about oh god

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  

The first of our occasional weekend bonus episodes… Bewildered by the tangled stories of Putin's war on Ukraine, Trump's incomprehensible loyalty to the Russian tyrant, and Russia's interference in British politics? The Guardian's foreign correspondent Luke Harding ties all the threads together in his riveting new book Betrayed: Trump, Putin And The New Age Of Conquest – laying bare how thoroughly Putin played Trump and the enormity of what has happened to our old world of rules.   He talks to Andrew Harrison about the big picture that daily news misses, the return of Great Power politics, and whether Donald Trump really is a Russian asset.   • Buy Luke's book Betrayal: Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.   • Photo: Trump greets Putin on the tarmac in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15 2025. (Photo by Kremlin Press Service / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)  Support us on Patreon - www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Written and presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production.  www.podmasters.co.uk   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

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  

Good news for newsrooms: Harry and Meghan are back in Britain and editors are beside themselves. We might say we don't care about “Reverse Megxit” but why does the clickrate say otherwise? Plus: Giftgate was only two years ago, but MPs are still accepting freebies. They've taken almost £400,000 of hospitality this year alone – including tickets to Harry Styles and the F1. But is that necessarily so bad? Are freebies a serious conflict of interest or do we just want politicians to live in a hair shirt? And in the Extra Bit: people are queuing to take photos at beauty spots – are we all just compliant sheep who need to get over our strangling cultural traditions? • Get up to £350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 here with the code OGWN • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Marie went to watch Tony, the biopic about the late rockstar chef-turned-broadcaster Anthony Bourdain • Seth watched 60's crime thriller Cash on Demand – like a “noirish bank heist version” of Dickens ' A Christmas Carol • Rachel hasn't been able to put down Jon Ronson's new book The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men • Ros has begun watching supernatural French drama Sea Shadows (or Rivages in French) www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Marie Le Conte, Rachel Cunliffe and Seth Thévoz. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

Oh God, I need your wisdom in every part of my life.Scripture: Proverbs 24:14 Share your thoughts with Suzie at her website.

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  

Is communism having a mini revival? Marxist critiques and socialist ideas are becoming the in thing with Gen Z, while Donald Trump is harking back to the Red Scare of his youth to attack the Democrats. Is it anything more than a resurrected bogeyman for the right? Man of the left, veteran journalist and friend of the pod Paul Mason joins the panel to discuss Reds: A Global History of Communism, his sweeping new history of the movement. Plus: Andy Burnham heads to Ukraine with missile plans in hand, Reform's bullshit policy of the week and much, much more.   • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Buy Paul's book Reds: A Global History of Communism from our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. ESCAPE ROUTES • Zoë has started watching award-winning medical drama The Pitt • Jonn has been watching the BBC murder mystery Ludwig • Paul went to watch Adrian Lester star as the titular character in Cyrano de Bergerac at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End • Andrew has been bingeing the late '70s British fantasy TV hit Sapphire and Steel www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Zoë Grünewald, Jonn Elledge and Paul Mason. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

How God Works will be back with all new episodes in September. In the meantime, we're excited to feature an episode from our friends at Oh God Now What, hosted by Niala Boodhoo.*In the debut episode, "Voting Your Morals," host Niala Boodhoo welcomes public theologian Curtis Chang and Rabbi Jill Jacobs. Using their expertise as religious thought leaders, they help us navigate aligning beliefs with how we vote. And they offer perspective and tools for strengthening democracy outside of high-stakes elections. Chang is the Executive Director of Good Faith, which helps politically ‘homeless' Christians navigate a deeply divided world. Rabbi Jacobs is the CEO of T'ruah, which empowers rabbis and cantors to lead Jewish communities in advancing democracy and human rights.

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  

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  

The climate crisis got horribly real this summer – but is it really true that ordinary people can't do anything about it? The National Emergency Briefing is a growing movement around a stunning documentary film that makes clear the reality of the crisis and what we CAN do about it. Green economist Angela Francis joins us to explain where the fight for a liveable climate is heading; how to beat the  Reform angle that it's just too expensive so we might as well not bother; and bring surprisingly good news about tech, investment and the coming battery.  Plus, house prices are falling (in some places), ULEZ is working, and Donald Trump decides North Korea is his favourite Korea. Well, it can't all be good news. • Find a screening of the National Emergency Briefing here and if there isn't one near you, you can request one.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Hannah went to see Jimmy Eat World and Rise Against at Crystal Palace Bowl.  • Jason has been enjoying the podcast Kevin Eldon's Speakers   • Angela has been reading How To Lose A Country by Ece Temelkuran and finally watching Call My Agent on Netflix.  • Matt watched Spider-Man: Brand New Day.  Buy books through our affiliate bookshop and you'll help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Matt Green with Hannah Fearn and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

You get to hear optimism, pessimism and realism all from the same group...about the same topic!! Season Preview starts...now!!! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The shocking death of former Cambridge University professor Jason Arday raises serious questions about the press investigation of his career and the claims he made about his life. Some blame the right-wing press for his death, others the university. Some blame the litany of racist and abusive messages Arday received online. Where should responsibility lie? Plus, Andy Burnham is clearly more comfortable navigating today's online world than Keir Starmer. But does he fully grasp the forces he's up against? Are Russia, China and malign actors closer to home “flooding the zone” with disinformation to drown out the truth? Former senior UK government adviser-turned disinformation analyst Amil Khan joins the panel to dissect the information war that Burnham faces. • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • James has been playing the strategy video game Civilisation VII • Marie is in the middle of Pereira Maintains by Italian writer and academic Antonio Tabucchi.  • Amil has been reading Beer in the Snooker Club by Egyptian writer Waguih Ghali.  • Seth watched David Lean's 1970 epic Ryan's Daughter When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Seth Thévoz with James Ball, Marie Le Conte and Amil Khan. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

How can you experience God’s love in your everyday life? Kelly Balarie shares a practical way to recognize God’s love in ordinary moments, experience His presence, and allow His love to transform how you live and love others. God’s love is more than something we learn about—it’s something we can personally experience. In this devotional, Kelly Balarie reflects on Ephesians 3:19 and the importance of moving beyond simply knowing about God’s love to intentionally looking for His presence in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Highlights Discover the difference between knowing about God’s love and personally experiencing it. Learn how ordinary moments can become reminders of God’s presence and love. Consider how phones, distractions, and the noise of the world can keep us from noticing God. See how intentionally looking for God can cultivate greater joy and awareness of His faithfulness. Reflect on how receiving God’s love enables us to love others more genuinely and sacrificially. Practice looking for God’s love in creation, circumstances, people, and everyday experiences. Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: A Super-Practical Tip to Encounter God’s Love By Kelly Balarie Bible Reading:“and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].” – Ephesians 3:19 AMPC I wake, deep into the night hour. My mind circles one thought: All that matters is love. I can’t get my mind off this thought. Besides love? Everything else is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. In this midnight hour, this thought both consumes me and compels me. I understand the sobering truth; I have one life to live. This is it! One grand stage to go all out for Jesus… It is here. I don’t want the world’s conveniences, accumulation of material items, or online contempt to drive me; I want love of Christ to compel me. I want to be so driven by love that people will reflect upon my life and say, “Wow. That could have only been Jesus.” Wouldn’t that be an amazing legacy: “We saw Jesus in her.” Theology studied will not produce that. Bible verses intellectually memorized will not result in that. More messages heard will not miraculously make this happen. Only love. Real love. Outpouring love. Genuine love. Caring love. Moving love. It is not just what we know; it is the love experienced in Christ Jesus that changes us. “and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].” (Eph. 3:19 AMPC) Love transcends the mind to live out from our heart, in real action. This morning, provoked again by this thought, I came to terms with the fact that God’s love is beyond me. But still, He miraculously welcomes me into it. In my day, to see forth Ephesians 3:19, I can do something. I can look for God’s love in the minuscule, in the ordinary, and in the mundane. I can seek Him and find Him.What does it look like? I see a heart in the concrete of the sidewalk I walk on. Many would just see it as a small hole. I see and remember God’s love for me. God, you love me so very much. I notice the waves that are continual; they never stop or end. God’s faithfulness always works. Like those waves will never stop, so do His promises for me never stop or end. I was given grace on a speeding ticket and only given a warning. God, like this warning for a speeding ticket, your mercy has entirely let me off the hook, and your grace, even more, blesses me. I notice the bird with the worm in its mouth. Oh God, you always provide the daily bread needed, right on time. God is encountering me all the time… if I look for Him. And, to seek Him is to find Him. When I receive His love, I am filled with His love. When I am filled with His love, I can impart His love. If He floods me, then I can flood the world. This is life-changing, and even world-changing. The presence of His love is the starting point of real joy, contagious joy. Doing this requires one to move past the distractions of the world, to dive into the intentionality of God’s heart in creation, in people, in circumstances, in the skies above and the world around. He is speaking, though many miss Him. He is telling us, often, of how much He loves us. Intersecting Faith & Life: How does the world distract you? Are you buried in your phone or looking for God wherever you go? What would it look like for you to forgo the world to find His love? Perhaps, today, start with asking God to give you understanding of His love? Ask Him to show you His love. Ask Him to help you to receive His love. Then, keep your eyes open to what God may be doing or saying in your world. Notice Him. Permit Him to love you as He makes His Word come alive in your life. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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  

In episode 501, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dig into the parable of the watchful doorkeeper in Mark 13:32–37 — four tightly packed verses that Jesus uses to call his servants to alertness before his return. But this isn't a passage about spiritual caffeine and white-knuckling your way through the Christian life. Tony and Jesse unpack what "stay awake" actually means through the lens of Reformed theology: active, differentiated stewardship in the ordinary means of grace, faithful vocation in every sphere of life, and a corporate ecclesial readiness that belongs to the whole church, not just the individual. This episode reorients the familiar language of watchfulness away from anxiety and date-setting toward the sturdy, quiet confidence of a believer who knows who they are, whose house they serve in, and why that identity drives everything. Key Takeaways "Stay awake" is a command about identity, not performance. The doorkeeper doesn't do what he does to become the doorkeeper — he's already the doorkeeper. Christians are watchful because of who they already are in Christ, not to earn or secure that status. Vocation is not optional waiting — it's active, differentiated stewardship. Christ's ascension corresponds to the master's departure, and the interim period is characterized by each servant being given his own work, reflecting Calvin's doctrine of vocation and the Reformed insistence that the Christian life between the ascension and the Parousia is not passive. Watchfulness is corporate, not merely individual. The church, as the pillar and buttress of truth, is called to a collective readiness. In Presbyterian polity, every act of a valid church jurisdiction is an act of the whole church — meaning each member has a genuine stake in the faithfulness of the whole body. The ordinary means of grace are the means of watchfulness. Prayer, the Word, the sacraments, fellowship, and sitting under preaching are not supplementary to vigilance — they are the very instruments by which God preserves and prepares his people. Two errors must be avoided: speculative date-setting and practical indifference. Uncertainty about the hour of Christ's return is neither an invitation to calculate nor an excuse for carelessness. It is the very grounds for sustained, ordinary faithfulness. The warnings of Scripture are themselves a means of grace. Following Westminster Confession of Faith 17, the sobering warning of verse 36 is not a threat to the elect's final security but a pastoral instrument by which God preserves his people in living, active faith. The rooster-crowing language of Mark 13 anticipates the Passion narrative. The clustering of watchfulness, the night watches, and the crowing rooster in this chapter echoes the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter's denial — a connection particularly resonant given Mark's traditional association with Peter's testimony. Explanatory Paragraphs Vocation and the Active Interim One of the most theologically rich observations in this episode is the way Jesse frames the master's departure as corresponding directly to the ascension of Christ. The key phrase in verse 34 — "each one his task" — is not incidental detail. It reflects the Reformed doctrine of vocation at full strength: every believer, in every sphere of influence, has been given particular work to do on behalf of the Lord during Christ's bodily absence. This is not a passive waiting room existence. It is an active, differentiated stewardship that is deeply personal and yet accountable to the master who owns the whole house. The ascension does not mean abandonment, and the parable makes that clear by the fact that the servants are left in charge — trusted, commissioned, and expected to be about their work when the master returns. The Church's Corporate Readiness A standout contribution of this episode is Tony's move from the individual to the ecclesial. Drawing directly from OPC Book of Church Order, Chapter 3, he argues that church power is not vested in officers alone but in the whole body of believers. This means that when any legitimate church jurisdiction acts — whether in discipline, instruction, or governance — it is the whole church acting. The parable's doorkeeper is therefore not just a figure for personal piety; he is a figure for the corporate watchfulness that belongs to every member of the household. Tony's point is that a Christian who is disconnected from his local church, indifferent to what is being taught and decided elsewhere in the visible church, is not simply failing at individual holiness — he is failing to be awake in the fullest sense the parable intends. The Ordinary Means of Grace as Watchfulness Itself Perhaps the most pastorally stabilizing insight of the episode is Jesse's observation that watchfulness is not some extraordinary spiritual heroism layered on top of normal Christian life — it is normal Christian life. The ordinary means of grace are ordinary precisely because they are the regular, appointed instruments through which God delivers his grace to his people. Prayer, the Word, the sacraments, and fellowship are not preparatory disciplines that get you ready for the real work of being watchful. They are the work. Tony reinforces this by noting that a person who persistently refuses the ordinary means of grace is not simply being unwise — they are declining the offer of God's grace, which is a far more serious matter than mere spiritual lethargy. Memorable Quotes The doorkeeper doesn't do what he does to become the doorkeeper in this parable. He's already the doorkeeper, and the fact that he's the doorkeeper explains why he's given certain responsibilities and certain commands. That's the way it is for us as Christians. - Tony Arsenal The warnings of Scripture are themselves among the ordinary means by which God preserves His people... the sobering possibility of being found asleep functions pastorally not to threaten the loss of the elect, but to press home the seriousness of watchfulness as the fruit and evidence of genuine faith." - Jesse Schwamb When I go into a patient encounter at the hospital, or when I pull up to a red light, or when I order a sandwich at McDonald's and they get it wrong — I bring with me the fact that I am a Christian, the fact that I am a servant of Christ, that I am a doorkeeper in the house of the living God. - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: [00:01:00] Welcome to episode 501 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. Well, we've got some more kingdom teaching on tap right from the mouth of Jesus. We're going through all the parables, if you haven't been tracking with us so far, and we're finding ourselves in Mark chapter 13. And as J- only Jesus can do, packs four verses with all kinds of rich, robust theology, and it's all in this kind of strange setting, actually. A guy heads out of town. He hands his servants the keys. He tells the doorman, "Hey, watch the place," with the same kind of e- enigmatic and vague energy that I imagine, like, your cable internet provider gives you when they give you an arrival time between now and Friday. And then Jesus lists literally, like, every possible hour He might show up, evening, midnight, rooster clock, dawn. And all of this is for His glory and for our benefits. [00:02:00] And we're gonna somehow try to see if we can take all of these four verses, which are so jam-packed, and fit them into our conversation. That's our challenge, and it's gonna be yours to listen to. So welcome to this episode.  Affirm or Deny Segment Jesse Schwamb: But before we do all of that, it is everybody's favorite time. Well, except for Wicked Scriptures. That is really everybody's favorite time. Second favorite time is where we find something in our lives, Tony, that we either affirm with because it's awesome, it's exciting, want everybody to know about it, or conversely, we deny against something because it's just not that great. We don't like it. Don't waste your time with it. So everybody longs to know, in this conversation, are you affirming with or denying against?  Tony Affirms Psalm Music Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming something tonight. Uh, the listener might remember, I don't know, maybe a month and a half back, I affirmed a particular setting of Psalm 63 in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. And as I was kind of, you know, looking around for, I wanted to find a track to sort of maybe add to the end of the episode just to sort of, [00:03:00] like, put a point on that. I stumbled on, um, a song, singer, I don't know if you'd call him a songwriter, 'cause he's mostly just writing song- psalms. But he's, he's arranging them. He's, you know, writing the guitar line for it or whatever. Uh, his name is Matthew David Montgomery. Uh, I don't know that you would know him from anywhere, but he's on, um- Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, wherever. Uh, he does an arrangement of O God Show Mercy to Us, which is Psalm 63, uh, setting A, I believe, in the Trinity Psalter hymnal. But, um, it's, it's in other hymnals, other psalters, uh, under the same name with the same tune. Uh, he has a beautiful singing voice. He does a lot of, uh, what's typically called, like, finger style, uh, guitar picking, uh, which is just very melodious and very gentle and soft. Um, it would be a great addition to, like, your morning devotional time to just, like, pick a psalm that he sings, that he's, he's recorded. Um, you can get most of his stuff for free on, uh, YouTube, or again, if you have Apple [00:04:00] Music or Spotify, it's available there. Uh, again, his name is Matthew David Montgomery, and he's got several, uh, several albums. He has ones that specifically is psalms called Psalms for Singing. Um, and then he has a couple finger style hymn songs, uh, hymn albums that are like, you know, like I don't know, more modern hymns, He Will Hold Me Fast, Only Holy God- Right kinda like Getty, um, Getty-style and City Alight songs, those kinds of sort of that complex of modern hymnody. Um, but he's excellent, and it's excellent theologically rich sound music. Um, I haven't listened to everything, but he seems like he's in kind of that, uh, sort of vein of worship music production producer peoples, um, that are just putting out good, accessible music. I know, like, a lot of small churches, uh, have in the past have had to resort to using tracks like this actually to sort of lead their vocal music. Um, that would be something to think [00:05:00] about. It's simple. It's arranged in a straightforward fashion. Many times it's arranged according to the psalters, which are by, almost by definition are designed for congregational singing. So it's good. It's great. Use it for family worship, listen to in your car. I don't know, workout music. I don't know if you would work out to this, but I guess you could try. Um- I love it ... but yeah, I usually, I usually listen to, um, Oh God, Show Mercy To Us probably, like, once a day. I listen to it usually in the morning to kinda center my day and get my head in the right space. Um, but yeah, it's just good stuff. David, um, Mi- Matthew David Montgomery, uh, the specific one was Psalms for Singing, but, um, all of his stuff is really great.  Jesse Schwamb: All right.  Jesse Affirms Hymn Devotional Jesse Schwamb: People are gonna think we're totally conspiring now, but I promise we're not. This is just how our minds work in collective fashion, that we never speak about stuff together. So my affirmation is right in the same vein. So I'm actually excited about this one because it might just be the golden age of daily books about, like, theological meditation. It might be. And [00:06:00] so this one is really good, and I'm super stoked because I'm kind of on the cusp of this one because I got an advance copy of this book, and it's just out now. It's called Awake My Soul, and it's daily readings, 365 hymn texts taken throughout church history from the Middle Ages to 1900. And each hymn for the day includes s- a suggested tune and then, like, a short historical slash, like, theological meditation. The beauty of this- Wow One, I'm learning all kinds of new hymns that are not my favorite. Two, you can either read them or... There's no music included in this, except that in the back there's an index that will give you... There's, like, a little code every day. This is like a s- it's your own treasure hunt. There's a little code on each day, and if you take that code and go back to the end of the book, what you'll find there is names of popular hymns or songs that you do know the, the tune to, and then you can take that same tune and use the same poetic meter that the hymn is in that you don't know, and guess what? You can actually sing it. So you're prepared every day to sing [00:07:00] music and to sing brand-new music with great confidence and high conviction. So this is, like, the bridge here. Go listen to some good music. And I would say if you wanna buy this, because it is brand new, go to hymnworks.com. It's by P&R Publishing. That's where you'll find the best price. It's, like, 25 bucks. It's a beautiful clothbound, like, handsome two-color printing with a ribbon. And also Passion Week and Advent are clearly marked and can be adapted for use in any calendar year. So there you go. Like, it's the double-barreled affirmation for good singing, good hymns. By the way, for all the brothers and sisters of exclusive psalmody, we see you raising your hands in the back. Actually, if you're doing exclusive psalmody, you're in the front. So we see you in the front, and this- And you're  Tony Arsenal: probably not raising your hands.  Jesse Schwamb: You're definitely not raising your hand. We see your hands  Tony Arsenal: in your pockets. Jesse Schwamb: We see you standing there  Tony Arsenal: stoically.  Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. We see your hands in your pockets, never coming out. That's fine. Yeah. Uh, this book also is for you because so much of it is actually just, uh, the psalms adapted for kind of [00:08:00] more, when I say contemporary, between the Middle Ages and 1900 worship. So, uh, there you go. I think this is lovely. Uh, we didn't plan it, but you've got two great resources for daily living and daily singing.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Building Daily Liturgy Tony Arsenal: And, you know, I think, um, there is sort of an element, and I'll be quick about this, where we are set up... We have such a, like, a dearth of riches in terms of accessibility to musical worship. And y- you know, used to think of it as, like, daily devotions, but I think the more, I think the more accurate and I think a, a more theologically rich term is a daily liturgy. Right. Um, you know, with books like Be Thou My Vision, um, by I think it's David Gibson, or, you know, he has, like, the Christmas version and the, um, I think there's an Easter version of it where it really walks you through a, a full daily liturg- liturgy with, like, a call to worship and a, a confession of sin. And, [00:09:00] um, and you could take these resources, whether it's an album like David, uh, or, like, um, David Michael Montgomery. That's a country singer, I think. Whatever the guy is that I recommend. I don't have his name in front of me. Uh, whether it's an album like that or whether it's- Right ... this resource Jesse's talking about, or like I've said before, like, just the trendy Psalter Hymnal app on your phone which will play the music for you and display the words. You can take this and there... I, I hate to say it this way because I know there's a lot of people that, that make good profitable use of sort of like evangelical, I would call it, like, fluffy devo kinda stuff. Uh, which ironically on my list of affirmations of things that are in the queue, there's, there's a devotional resource that even kinda falls into this category. Yeah, there is. But, um, there really is no good excuse for not having some sort of robust daily worship pattern. Right. Um, because you can, you can really make use of these resources to create a pretty cohesive, well put-together, pleasurable kind of [00:10:00] daily worship set or liturgy or experience, I don't know, whatever word you wanna slot in there. Um, a- and really get... Like, really just have an excellent experience out of it, really have good resources. So yeah, I'm, I'm on board. I think it's great. I would love to, I would love to be able to, uh, to take a look at that. So maybe next time we're in the same geographical location you'll have to show me. Jesse Schwamb: Oh, I'll bring it. We'll, we'll do it. It actually doubles as a hymnal because it's all indexed, so you can actually- Yeah ... just use it as a hymnal. I love books that give you two purposes. Oh, that's a double threat book right there. And that means, like, for the spaces taken up in your life and on your shelf it can do more than one thing. That's like having a kitchen appliance that, like, I don't know, is like an air fryer and it brews beer. Like, that's worth- Yeah ... the space all the time  Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, I just recently found out that they make washers that are also dryers, and they're in the same machine, and- Wow.  Jesse Schwamb: That's transformative ... I  Tony Arsenal: would feel like a millionaire if I had one of those- Reading Mark 13 Parable Jesse Schwamb: 'cause- Well, speaking of [00:11:00] feeling like a millionaire, and I think what you challenge us with is settling in some patterns of daily worship and living for God, it just so happens that Jesus has some instruction for us in that same way- Nice ... in Mark chapter 13. So let me start beginning in verse 32. And if you're tracking along or keeping score at home and you've gone to this chapter, what you're probably gonna find is we're actually in the, the parable of the fig tree, or just at the end. But w- we're not gonna touch that one, not yet, so don't get too excited. We're actually coming right at the end of that. So picking up in verse 32: "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Now, this is Jesus speaking: "See to it, keep on the alert, for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It's like a man away on a journey who, leaving his house and giving authority to his slaves, each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake – for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the [00:12:00] evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake." Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  What Stay Awake Means Tony Arsenal: Yeah, it's a good, uh, it's a good parable. And, you know, this is covering a lot of the same ground as other parables that we've, uh, approached. I think what's a little bit, uh, unique or different about this one is that some of the, some of the cautions that we, um, brought out with the other parables, because they were actually longer and had more details, um, some of those cautions don't necessarily apply the same way here. Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Right? We, we talked about the parable of the 10, of the 10 virgins, or the wise and foolish virgins, whatever you wanna call it, and we talked a lot about how this language of, like, stay awake seemed to be misapplied, uh, as, like, falling asleep is foolish. Because in that para- that particular parable, [00:13:00] um, both the wise and the foolish virgins fall asleep. It's not the falling asleep that was the problem, it was the being prepared, um, for the master's return. Uh, in that case, having the proper equipment, having your, you know, your lamps trimmed, your oil ready, all that stuff. In this parable, um, it really is about being awake. Like, being awake is the task. Yes. It's the specific command. That's right. And so our task tonight is to unpack a little bit about what it even means to be awake, what does this parable say to us about that. Um, but I, I think this one falls a little bit more in line with kind of what we maybe... I know this is weird to say. It falls a little bit more in line with what we've been talking about as a, sort of like a little bit of a legalistic approach to some of the parables. This one really does have, I th- I think, has more to do with, uh, the, the sort of production that Christians are expected to have.  Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: The, the, the holiness, the good works we're expected to have, and how [00:14:00] that plays into kind of our alertness, our, our fittedness for service, uh, and, and maybe ultimately even the way that we're rewarded in the last, the last times or in, in heaven. All of that kinda plays in here, and this is kind of like Mark's equivalent to sort of like the eschatological parables that we talked about at, at the end of Matthew in, you know, Matthew 25 and, and sort of that area  Jesse Schwamb: I totally agree.  Vocation and Stewardship Jesse Schwamb: I think this bad boy, even just the first verse, it's like a compact statement of the doctrine of vocation and providence all wrapped into one. And it's easy to read it and just kind of fly by that stuff and say, "Of course, I need to be aware of what's going on. I need to be aware of God's presence or seek Him in worship." All that's true, but there's a lot in this because, of course, the master's departure here corresponds clearly to Christ's ascension. There's like a real bodily absence that nonetheless does not amount to like abandonment. And then to your point, what I think starts to differentiate us from some of like the [00:15:00] other parables where we've been very careful about parsing this, has been this assignment, each his own work. It's reflecting like a really traditional like Reformed, I think, emphasis, even from like Calvin's doctrine of vocation, that the Christian life between the ascension and the Parousia is not one of like passive waiting, but there is like an active differentiated stewardship, and it's every believer. And even though it's just a sentence, there's like a lot of particularity in this to remind us that each one has a task, and that task is something that you should undertake on behalf and for the Lord  Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, and this, um, the other element of this, um, that I think is interesting is, you know, we don't wanna, um We wanna be careful not to try to build entire theological, like edifices, edifices. I'm not sure which word is right. Edifice. We don't wanna build huge theological structures on top of like slight variations in words. And, and I know that, um, that can [00:16:00] sometimes be very popular in our circles and, and I'm, I s- absolutely support the grammatical historical interpretive method. I don't think it's the only el- only, you know, hermeneutic we should think about. But I definitely agree with the words matter and the meanings of the words matter. Right. But we can also go too far in, like, making an entire theological point hang on the particular choice of a verb pars- like a verb tense or mood or whatever. But I think it's interesting, um, w- the sort of what we might call the parable proper starts in verse 34, but in verse 33 it says, "Be on guard, keep awake, for you do not know when the time will come." That's not the parable. That's Christ giving a command to his immediate audience, and then I think vicariously therefore for us. When we get into the parable and it, and it says, uh, that the command for the doorkeeper, right? So the, he, he takes his servants, he puts his servants in charge, and I s- I take that to mean, [00:17:00] like, he leaves the house to them. Like, he leaves them to their task. They're, they're not, they're not having to report to anybody. They just manage the household- Right ... autonomously or independently. Um, each with his work, so there's this idea that, like, each of the servant has their own proper sort of realm of the house that they manage, right? The gardener's managing the garden, the, the house, you know, the, the, um, the, the person who's in charge of the money is managing that. And the doorkeeper, which is a particular role, his task, his charge, his, he is commanded to stay awake. Now, the phrase, the word for stay awake in verse 30, uh, 34 is not the same word that's used in verse 33. Now, I, I have not done the word study on this or, or the c- commentary work to know how significant that is, but we do affirm that the Holy Spirit inspires each individual word.  Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  Tony Arsenal: And I think we could make an argument that sometimes a word is just used, um, at least on a, on a [00:18:00] human level. It, it's just you don't wanna use the same word multiple times. Like, just like anyone writing any sort of pi- piece of work, you don't use the same word repetitively. You vary the words. You use, use synonyms to, to spice it up and to give it some variety. But also, I think there may be some significance in the fact that within the story, within the parable, the command to stay awake is a particular word, and then a different word to stay awake and to be watchful, and there's this repetition, "Be on guard. Keep awake." Like, those are parallel statements. Um, those, that's a significant thing that that word is different  Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It's a huge, I think, reminder that there's all... The- even, again, I can't believe how much is packed. Now that I think about this, we start talking about it into, like, a single sentence. But every believer, like every servant in this house, has been given some kind of task suited to his place. I believe that's what Jesus is trying to impress us with. And that idleness is not an option countenanced by the text because the doorkeeper's [00:19:00] particular charge to watch, like you were saying, functions to me, I think, almost like a synecdoche. Like, it's f- for the whole- Yeah ... household's duty. His vigilance stands for what is in fact required of every servant, since verse 37 will then extend this command to, like, everybody. So just- Yeah ... within, like, this little space of writing or this little space of teaching, I think what we have here is, like, it's realistic for us to say we've got the twin realities that ground really biblical ecclesiology in the interim period. We have Christ's real absence, but that's, like, against, I would say, any collapsing of the already into a fully realized eschatology. And then you have Christ's ongoing ownership and authority over his house, which is the church, against any notion that the church is left to autonomous self-governance. So the house, in other words, re- remains Christ's, and the servants remain accountable to him, not to themselves, like you've just said, and each one is accountable to God in a unique way according to the task that he's given them. So again, this beautiful marriage of [00:20:00] both the responsibility, the providence, and the responsibility that we have before God in being responsible to him, but also that he is governing all things for his good and for his glory.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Doorkeeper Role Explained Tony Arsenal: And you know, I think, um, the word doorkeeper here too, uh, you know, as I peek at the Greek a little bit, the word doorkeeper is also a much broader term than, uh, it might seem. You know, like I think, you know, one of my kid's favorite shows is like Curious George, and there's a character in the, the story that's literally named Doorman, and he's just the guy that like opens the door in the apartment that- Right ... Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat. But the word doorkeeper in, uh, in the Greek here, when applied to a, a female, is understood to be like the janitor. So the doorkeeper might even be considered something more like the master of the house. Like think of like, um-  Jesse Schwamb: Lady's ...  Tony Arsenal: uh, like the, the head butler, right? In like if you think of like Downton Abbey, right? Right. The, the guy who actually like takes care of and like [00:21:00] runs, the house manager or something like that might be a better way to look at it. And I think you're right that his charge to stay awake, to keep alert, it does extend to the entire household, but it also is a particular command for that figure.  Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Right? So yes, everybody is given their task. This, this person, this doorkeeper, he is, um, called out specifically, individually, right? It's not as though he's the only servant in the house. There's all these other servants, they each have their task, and they're all commanded to keep about their business. The doorkeeper, the master of the house, the, I don't know, head butler, the head ch- the chief janitor, I don't know what you would want, the head custodian of the house, um, and don't think of custodian or janitor in terms of like- Like the school janitor who like cleans the toilets and mops up after the kids throwing up and stuff. The, the janitor or the custodian of the house is really the person who kind of like runs the household, the sort of like head servant of the house. [00:22:00] His command to keep watchful, to be on guard or to be alert is because, um, the, the master's return is sudden and unexpected. Right. And so if the doorkeeper doesn't keep up with things, if he's not awake, if he's not running things, if he's not managing things, if he's not alert and awake, then not only does his task get, get, um, undone... And I think like we think of it like, "Oh yeah, be on guard." You sometimes hear this parable or, or variations of this parable taught as like you gotta keep the wolves out, like he's the guard at the door. Right. I don't think that's what this is getting at. It's really more like if this, if the doorkeeper s- falls asleep on the job, then the entire house falls into disarray, and you can't recover that when the master all of a sudden is at the gate. If you're just the guard, I guess you might be able to snap to attention and like, you know, pull your pole arm or whatever it is up. Like you might be able to snap to attention and kind of fake it. But if you're the guy who manages the entire household and the [00:23:00] whole household is in disarray because you've fallen asleep on the job, there's no recovering from that when the master taps you on the shoulder and says, "Please wake up, I'm home." You just can't recover from that. And so I think that's, that's the element of the story, the element of the parable that we probably need to think about a little bit more is, all right, w- no one of us is the doorkeeper of the church.  Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  Tony Arsenal: But also none of us are not the doorkeeper of the church. So like we all have a role and a responsibility in, in the church to sort of like be a part of, an active part of the church, an active part of God's kingdom, which is not, I'm not trying to say we're all gatekeepers, right? We're not all called to be r- to rule over the church. Like there's a particular office of ruling elder that I would say exists, uh, you know, that's codified in the OPC. But even within other kinds of s- setups, there's usually some sort of elder, you know, setup where there's elders that are not teaching elders. They're not there to like teach and minister and, and preach. They're there to [00:24:00] like govern the church and support the needs of the body spiritually. That's really, uh, you know, like a particular office, but that's also a task and a role that we all share as Christians is to, to sh- sort of, I almost said shepherd, but that doesn't feel right, but it also doesn't feel wrong. To sort of like manage the business of the congregation and the church- That's right ... and the, the invisible church as a whole. That's the task of every Christian, and that's really what this parable's getting at, I think.  Jesse Schwamb: I think so too. And I, I don't wanna, like, build too far a bridge away from that point. I think it's worth sitting there for a second because what occurs to me as you were saying that is I just happened to be reading Calvin's commentary this morning in 1 Corinthians 5, and he builds this whole theological argument around this idea that he, he basically is saying, "Why should the Corinthians mourn over one man's sin?" And he gives two reasons. First, as a consequence of the communion that exists among the members of the church, it's becoming that all should feel hurt at or so it's deadly if one of their members should fall. And the second is when such an erroneous sin is [00:25:00] perpetrated in a particular church, the perpetrator is an offender in such a manner that he pollutes the whole society. That is to say, I think it's kind of in line with what you're saying, that corruption in one place will affect the entire body. That is like falling asleep, pulling away from the mission Being found outside of the mission of God's, uh, for God's glory is something that hurts the church body. And we might ask, like if there is in our own lives a persistent sin, some kind of corruption, then we ought to ask, is there any form of corruption that we're contributing to the body of God? And I think those, these like real consequences of what it means to live in a way where we find ourselves, again, outside of what it means to worship whole heartedly, to worship with heart, soul, and mind, all of which we do imperfectly. Yet at the same time- Yeah ... are we being awake? Are we being made aware? Watchfulness and Rest Jesse Schwamb: I, I wonder if part of what's envisioned here and in view with Jesus' teaching is not just this idea... Almost like I think sometimes we, we say stay awake or we say be [00:26:00] watchful, and of course like I love that Jesus mentions like the four watches. Like that's, I think, like a distinctly kind of Roman division of the night into four three-hour segments. And of course it's gonna suggest to Mark's gentile audience that, and, and underscore this point, that it's not which watch, but that no watch may be presumed safe from the master's arrival. And so I think when we hear that stuff we think, "Well, this means like don't fall asleep." In other words, like there's going to be a test somewhere in your life or all of your life where you're going to be legitimately tempted to take a rest, and you can't take a rest. You gotta keep like just going thrust or no th- you, there's no other choice- Right ... but to give it your all. I think what's better here and what's in view is in all areas of life, are you awake to the reality that God has given you work to do in the spheres of influence that you have, in the particular place in which you live, among the church people whom He has given you to worship with? Are you aware that at all times you ought to be moving and working and for His glory, [00:27:00] even while you are literally sleeping in rest so that you might do those things for the next day? So I- Yeah ... I don't wanna get too hyped up on it's kind of like, again, what's the spiritual equivalent of always drinking Celsius and Red Bull and just like toughing it out- Yeah like with your eyes wide open. It's, it's way more than that.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, uh, this is gonna seem like a weird transition, but it's, it is but also isn't. Um, I, I saw an interesting video the other... I'm getting super nerdy here right now. But, um, I saw an interesting video on YouTube the other day that was talking about how strange it was that there is like a night shift on the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek Next Generation. But, but actually like- It, it demonstrated something to me that, like, even on a, you know, this is obviously a fictional television show, but, like, even on a spaceship where there is no sun, there is no actual reference- Right ... for what a day is, right? We think of a day, and, and rightfully so, it's locked into a 24-hour cycle because of the [00:28:00] way God has created the Earth to spin, and the sun, and the sunrise, sunset, et cetera. But in this fictionalized universe, in this fictionalized world, there's no sunset. There's no, uh, chronology, yet they still divide on, on this, they still divide the day into these three watches. And it's funny, 'cause they talk about how, like, well, there's, there's the day shift, there's the sort of like second shift, and there's the night shift. And they actually even, like, turn the lights down on the ship to simulate a day-night cycle. And, and what it got me thinking about, and I think in the parable, obviously, like, it's the four watches of the night. Um, I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons, and, like, when you're gonna do what's called a long rest, you have to determine who's gonna set a watch. If you don't set a proper watch, then the dungeon master may make it so monsters show up and you don't get your long rest. This idea that- Even resting is an appropriate and necessary execution of- Right ... the task to be watchful. That's right. Like, I think that's important. If you are, um, i- if you think of like, uh, Lord of the [00:29:00] Rings, right? And they set a watch. Uh, the responsibility of the people who aren't on watch is to make every, every use of that time to sleep so that if something happens, they're alert. And then when also when it's time for them to take watch, they're able to be watchful. And, uh, the other thing I wanna, wanna just comment really quickly on, because I, I, I didn't do a lot of prep for this episode. Big shocker. We don't prep a lot for these episodes. And this is another Markan parable that I'm not super familiar with.  Church Alertness and Power Tony Arsenal: But one of the things that as we're talking through it I'm, I'm becoming more convinced of, is this really is about not just any one individual being alert, although there is implications for us. It's really about the whole church being alert.  Jesse Schwamb: That's  Tony Arsenal: right. Like, the church is the, uh... I, I think it's in, I wanna say it's in Timothy, I don't know where, but the Church is the buttress and pillar of truth, right? So that's not to say we're the, we're the arbiter of truth, but I wanna read this. The... I don't know any other podcasts, although in our circles there [00:30:00] probably are other podcasts that you might hear someone reading out of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church book of Church Order, Form of Government, chapter three, verse, uh, passage one here. Uh, but this is, this is, as I said, uh, BCO chapter three, Form of Government. Uh, and this is, the chapter is titled The Nature and Exercise of Church Power. And when I was coming into the OPC, I don't think I was surprised, uh, in terms of like I thought the theology was different. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was articulated and how clearly it was articulated. So I'm just gonna read the whole section here. It says, "The power which Christ has committed to His Church is not vested in special officers alone, but in the whole body. All believers are endued with the Spirit & called of Christ to join in the worship, edification, and the witness of the Church which grows as the body of Christ, fitly framed and knit together through, uh, that which every joint supplies according to the working and due measure of each part." Sidebar commentary. The BCO doesn't [00:31:00] have proof text, but if they did, they would just be citing to Ephesians 5 here. Um, back to what the text says. "The power of believers in their general office includes the right to acknowledge and desire the exercise of the gifts and calling of the special officers. The regular exercise of oversight in a particular congregation is discharged by those who have been called to such work by the vote of the people." So just to summarize that, officers, at least in the OPC Um, ruling elders are nominated and voted into, into office and essentially, uh, given their powers, their official powers, their official responsibilities, not by the presbytery, uh, and not by some hierarchy, but by the congregation. They call from within.  Church Authority From Congregation Tony Arsenal: But that, that means that the power of the ruling elders, the, the authority of the ruling elders, is not derived from some hierarchy. It's derived from the [00:32:00] authority and the exercise of power of the whole church. And the other thing, I won't read this, but the other thing that I found, um, really interesting that I really like is in Presbyterianism, and, and I, I believe Presbyterianism is what the Bible teaches positively as a command. I know there are other church polities, and I know everybody is trying to figure it out, and we don't all agree. I think Presbyterianism is the right way.  Jurisdictions And Whole Church Acts Tony Arsenal: But either way, um Presbyterianism works on a s- sort of an idea of, uh, jurisdictions, right? And they're kinda concentric circles. They're not necessarily hierarchical, but it's, it's narrow jurisdictions and then broader jurisdictions. And the most narrow jurisdiction is the session of a local church over that congregation. But what's really interesting is that the, the Book of Church Order calls out that when any valid jurisdiction of the church is exercising its authority, it's not just that jurisdiction that's [00:33:00] acting. That's an act of the whole church, the entire Orthodox Presbyterian Church. So in a congregation where someone is in unrepentant sin and that, uh, session makes a decision, votes a decision to excommunicate that person, to remove them from the rolls, consider them to be an unbeliever, that's not just an act of that jurisdiction. I- i- as a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, when some church in Sacramento, California, I don't know if there's an OPC in Sacramento, I assume there probably is, but some church in Sacramento, California, the presbytery or the session excommunicates someone, I am e- I'm engaged in that act. That's an act of the whole church.  Watchfulness Beyond Personal Piety Tony Arsenal: And this, the, the only reason I go there and I bring, I kind of dive into that level of granularity is I actually think that this is kind of what this parable is teaching, is that as individuals, we need to be alert because the whole church acting is the whole church acting. So whether this takes the [00:34:00] form of me just being really un- un- like, locked into my local church and making sure that I'm active in my local church, or whether... And I think there are some of us who are called to this, um, and I think our, our podcast in some levels sort of takes this shape a little bit, are watching what other people in the church are doing and sometimes are offering corrections, right? It is not the case that an average blogger has ecclesiastical authority in the strictest sense, but when I see, or, or anyone who is sort of involved in online commentary, podcast, blogging or otherwise, I see someone in the church teaching something elsewhere and I call that out, that's me sort of fulfilling this command of Mark 13. I'm being watchful Because what that Christian says or does, if they're truly a Christian, actually does have something to do with what I believe. It actually does have something to do with me as a believer. That doesn't mean that you should get up in everybody else's business. That's not what I'm saying. Like, sometimes- Right ... the thing [00:35:00] that's going on in the church over there is just that thing that's going on over at the church there. But for example, there was a pretty high-profile, um, uh, ecclesiastical, I don't know if it was a trial, but like an ecclesiastical deposition, I guess, um, for a presbytery down in the Southwest, um, about some pretty gnarly things that were being said by an elder in the OPC church, and I wrote to that presbytery. They haven't sent it to me yet, but I wrote to that presbytery and said, "Hey, what you did at that meeting is an act of the whole church that I'm a part of. Can you send me the minutes?" And I have a right to do that, because I wanna see what's going on. I wanna understand what statements they're making on behalf of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of America. Or, I just combined like 1,000 different denominations- Yes, you did. ... into one sentence. But I, I think the point is clear, like the, the parable of the watchful doorkeeper or the porter is not about exclusively, I do think there's an element of it, but it's not about our individual piety. It's about the sort of readiness state of the entire church for [00:36:00] Christ's return, if you really boil it all down  Avoid Date Setting And Indifference Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, so we, I think before we leave verse 35, we, we are at least contractually obligated to say, though we've said it before, that there are two errors here that we should definitely seek to avoid. And because we're talking about, again, this idea that we do not know when the master of the house will come, that is the reason why we wait, and we are watchful, like you just said. But it means that the first is any kind of, like, speculative date setting, which is a fool's errand. We've talked about that at length. Yeah. The second one, again, I think we're contractually obligated to say, is a practical indifference, maybe sometimes dressed as, like, pious agnosticism, like treating the uncertainty of that hour as grounds for some kind of spiritual carelessness rather than heightened attentiveness. So I think where all this wraps up with what you said about one representing all, that, that is the church's responsibility. Yes, you're right. In Timothy we get the command that this is the center and the pillar. So I... That obviously all this coheres with just straight-up biblical [00:37:00] doctrine of assurance and perseverance, because the elect are kept by God's power through faith. So what that means is watchfulness is not some kind of, like, anxious uncertainty about final salvation, but instead it is, like, this disciplined fidelity in the means God has appointed. Ordinary Means Of Grace Jesse Schwamb: And what are those means? Like, I feel like this is where everybody just shouts back, "Ordinary means." You know what I mean? When I say means- ... you say ordinary. Means- Or I should, I should say it the other way around. Ordinary. But this idea that, like, what are those things God has put into our lives, has appointed for us to use, has commanded us to up- obtain for ourselves by his power? It's prayer, it's the word, it's the sacraments. It's a mutual watchfulness within that visible church like you were just describing, and it's precisely because the timing of Christ's return has been sovereignly withheld from creaturely knowledge. So there's actually a lot in this that I think assuages that, that really sensitive Christian conscience, which is like, "Well, are you telling me I have to do more?" That's not what we're saying at all. We're, we're saying, "Do the things which God has empowered you to do." And guess what? Those things [00:38:00] are just very chill, very ordinary things that take on extraordinary influence and power in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit. So again, it's like this whole thing of saying, like, when we work, we work. When we pray, God works. It's the same kind of thing here. There is work to be done. There is a watchfulness to undertake in all the activities of our lives. But it is not like whatever the, again, the equivalent, like, is of, like, spiritual, I don't know, like shots of espresso and, and Celsius to just try to, like, by all accounts, by your own power, somehow just not sleep. Uh- Yeah ... not sleeping is not what this text is about. It's actually about being aware, worshiping in awareness around all the things, and then devoting ourselves to all the stuff that we keep talking about, to praying, to studies in the scripture, to having family devotions and time of worship, to baptism, and to the Lord's Supper. That's what watchfulness is all about.  Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:39:00] Yeah, and I, I think, um, you know, this is again I do think this parable has more to do with the idea of kinda getting after it. I, I think that's how we usually talk about it, like getting after holiness. Yeah, it is. Um, I, I think this parable has more to do with that than some of the other parables with similar language that we've talked about. But I, I also think, um, as Reformed Christians, uh, we get the, we get the cart before the horse if we think that even though that's what it's about, that that somehow places the onus on us to do the good works, right? Right. The good works are prepared for us in advance that we might walk in them. And, uh, i- it's not even right to say, like, our responsibility is to walk in them. That's not even quite right theologically. Like, we are going to walk in them. Like, that's, that's the thing, is the doorkeeper is given this charge. He's commanded to stay awake, and in good Augustinian fashion, it's really more along the [00:40:00] lines es- of the doorkeeper is made to stay awake because he's been commanded to. Jesse Schwamb: Yes, that's right.  Tony Arsenal: And I think that's, that's really key.  Fruit Checking And Assurance Tony Arsenal: And yes, there is some- something to say for, uh, fruit checking. And I, I know that there are probably some in our audience that just, like, threw up in their mouth a little bit when I said that. Um, but the, the reality is, a lack of fruit, uh, i- in our life, and by fruit I'm talking about good works. Primarily I'm talking about the ordinary means of grace, like you said. A, a person who is refusing to avail themselves of the ordinary means of grace, right? Right on. Regular church attendance, prayer- Right ... the sacraments, Bible reading, um, sitting under the preaching of the Word, fellowship with other believers. Um, I would even say to some extent regular s- regular financial support of the Church. Mm-hmm. Um, and, and I... There, there are times where that may not be, uh, the most feasible thing, and so that's a decision between you and the Holy Spirit and for you to discuss with your pastor. [00:41:00] But, but the reality is God has given us these ordinary means of grace as a gift and as a way to nourish and support us. When we refuse to take part in those, and I use the word refuse intentionally, when a person refuses to attend church, for the most part most of us who have had a season where we don't, don't attend church, and I, I had a long season when I was in college where I just didn't attend church. There was no good reason for it. I just didn't do it. And if I'm being really honest, it was 'cause at that time in my life I had some sinful patterns that I didn't wanna face up to, right? That's usually what it boils down to.  Jesse Schwamb: Right.  Tony Arsenal: Um, but for those of us who d- who refuse to, uh, take part and to avail ourselves of the ordinary means of grace, that should really cause us to question our salvation. Not because the ordinary means of grace cause our salvation, but because the ordinary means of grace are exactly as they're called. Exactly. They're the ordinary means by which God delivers His grace to us. So if we're refusing to receive God's grace, it means we're refusing to receive God's grace. And the only people ultimately who are not forgiven are [00:42:00] those who receive to ref- you know, refuse to receive God's grace. So I think this, this passage has more to do with us in an indi- sort of on the individual level, us being actively engaged and partaking in the, uh, the administration of the covenant of grace, to use a more technical term, right? The administration of the covenant of the grace are the visible means of grace. If we refuse to be baptized, if we refuse to partake of the Lord's supper, if we refuse to attend church and to sit under the preaching of the word and to pray, then we are, we are turning down God's offer of grace. That's right. We're taking the gift that He desires to give us, and we're saying, "No thank you." Well, when we phrase it that way, it's a flat rejection of God's grace that we're engaged in.  Church Mission And Readiness Tony Arsenal: But on a, on a sort of like big picture scale I think it has to do also along with these lines that I'm talking about of the Church itself being ready. Well, how does the Church prepare itself for Christ's [00:43:00] return? Again, the ordinary means of grace, right? We prepare ourselves by teaching and ministering, right? C- I think it's Colossians 1:28. If I was on Reformed Forum, I'd have this memorized 'cause it's their, like, theme verse. But, like, equipping every person for the ministry of Christ, equipping every person, making sure every person is, uh, mature and ready. Like, all of those things come together as the primary mission of the Church. And I know this is gonna trigger some people, but, like, evangelism is not the primary mission of the Church. The primary mission of the Church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, which takes place mostly on the Lord's day. I think all of that, the personal dimension, the corporate dimension, all of that coalesces in this command to be watchful, to stay awake, to be on guard, to s- be about the task, to be in charge of the commands you've been given. All of those different concepts come together in what Christ is talking about here in verse 37 when He says, "I say to you, I say to all, [00:44:00] stay awake." Like- Right ... that's what we're talking about. So it's not as simple as personal piety. It's probably not as complicated as some sort of, like, I don't know, least of these, feed-the-poor schema that happens sometimes. All of that happens. It really is just about the Church being the Church and doing the things the Church does, both on the individual level, but also on the corporate level. Perseverance And Scriptural Warnings Jesse Schwamb: And that's why, as loved ones of God, then we can come to verse 36, which is the full warning, and we actually read it as a great comfort. So it says, "Lest he come suddenly and find you asleep." And after all we're talking about here, the way I read this warning against complacency is entirely consistent with, instead of being contradictory to, the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. Because perseverance is not fatalism, and I'm just... I'm still learning this, loved ones. Like, and even here, what I marvel at is the warnings of scripture are themselves among the ordinary means by which God preserves His people. So I go back to the Westminster [00:45:00] Confession of Faith chapter 17, which notes that, "Believers may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, fall into grievous sins, and so incur God's displeasure, even while never finally falling from grace." So that sobering possibility of, of quote-unquote being found asleep I think functions pastorally not to threaten the loss of the election, of the elect, but to press home I think, like, the seriousness of watchfulness as the fruit and evidence of genuine faith, which is what you're talking about. That, that's kind of like the Reformed theological jam in a sense, and that's why, where I think we'd anchor like James 2, Hebrews 3 and 4. There is, like, a call of the necessity of perseverance in the means as the mark of the true as opposed to be merely, of course, like some kind of profession of discipleship. The visible church, and we talked about this too, mixed as it is, is here warned that the formal membership in the household is no substitute for actual wakefulness. And so I hope we see that warning as not something [00:46:00] that's like, "Well, you gotta, you gotta check yourself every day 'cause if you just step out of line once, if you fall asleep at any little thing, then it just goes to show you that you weren't serious enough." Instead, it's like you said, Tony, like even the warning itself is proof positive that God will save, that He arrests, that He holds everything firm and secure, and that even the setting of the table or the preparing of the good works and then the way in which you walk in them, we might ask, how is it that you are even walking? Yeah. And so even this is all an act of God, whether we speak about that, uh, that justification, that initial positional sanctification, and even the progressive frame as well is all f- happens here because God is in fact doing that good work. So it's a good warning because it reminds us that what's, I think, the particular and special dispensation of the Christian is that in this falling asleep, as the Westminster Confession says, it may mean that we fall even into grievous sins. We're incurring God's displeasure. We're not disrupting our [00:47:00] identity in Christ, but we are disrupting our harmony with Christ. Yes. And so we always want to seek and to live in that kind of beautiful harmony where there is, I think, obedience for a word. There is a special fellowship that comes from being close to God in this way. We should always strive after that and want that very thing, but at no point does the Christian who even falls into grievous sins, as the Confession reminds us, fall outside of God's mercy and grace. Merely we fall outside of God's pleasure, and we r- we're finally returned to grace by His power in our lives, whi- which He Himself affects so that even in our fall, even in our death every day, there is a little bit of resurrection that restores us. Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  Rapture Ready Misreadings Tony Arsenal: Yeah, another way, um, another way to put this, um, and I, I don't mean to trugger, trig- to trigger, uh, our dispensationalist friends and family who are listening to the show, um, there are I will speak from my own experience coming out of a dispensationalist framework when I was in [00:48:00] high school and early college. Um, there was a lot of focus on being, quote, "Rapture ready." And I, I think sometimes we can read parables like this to think that stay awake means be Rapture ready. And what that means is, like, in some forms of dispensationalism, and I think probably many forms of dispensationalism, there's this idea that, like, if you're not right with God in, in this sense you're talking about, if, like, you're in disharmony with God when the Rapture comes, you may ultimately be saved, but you're not gonna be saved by the Rapture, which means you're gonna have to deal with the tribulation, and that's no good. So, like, if your piety's not on point when the Rapture happens, all your friends are gonna be taken away, and you're gonna be left behind, right? I don't think it's too much of a characteristic- a caricature to talk about Left Behind when there's an entire dispensational book series about this, right? Right. The whole concept behind the Left Behind novel is that it's populated by people who thought they were Christians who weren't. Uh, and some of [00:49:00] those are because they had a false profession of faith. Some of them were just back- what, what a lot of people would just call backslidden Baptists or backslidden Christians who, who had a genuine profession of faith but just weren't living in a holy fashion. I think we can sometimes read this, whether we're dispensationalists or not, we can read these kinds of parables in light of Rapture readiness. I think it's, it's both more assuring and also infinitely more severe than that. Right. It's not about Rapture ready. It's about whether you're saved or not. Right. Whether you are in the kingdom of God, whether you are among the household of believers. All of the people in view in this parable are members of the master's household, right? Uh, they're all his servants. So it's not as though there are some who are, um, outside of his family that are be given, being given a command to be watchful. There's also no consequence implied for the doorkeeper if somehow he's not watchful. It's more along the lines of if you're in the faith, if you are the doorkeeper or a [00:50:00] doorkeeper in the g- in the king's house, then you ought to be watchful because that's what you do. And so there's no, like, implied consequence. There's no assumption that the doorkeeper somehow won't be watchful. So I think if there's any sort of, like, gut check, status check that needs to happen, it's really more along the lines of are we in the Lord's household or are we not? That's right. That's right. And I think that's, that's what you're getting at. If we're in the Lord's household, if we're members of his house, if we're servants in his kingdom, then we will be awake when the time comes. We will be awake when he returns.  Rooster Crow And Passion Echoes Tony Arsenal: And the other thing, and I'll just throw this out there maybe as a tease. I don't, I don't think there's enough here for us to come back to it next week, uh, although I've been wrong before, and sometimes Jesse and I have conversations right after that turn into the next episode. I think it's really interesting- I don't know if you ran into this when you were reading it, but- Yeah ... verse 35: "Therefore stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at [00:51:00] midnight or when the rooster crows," that's a very interesting phrase to me- It is, yeah ... "or in the morning." It's just another chapter or two when- Yeah ... we see the disciples fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, right? Gethsemane. Um, the disciples fall asleep. We see language of the watches, right? The, the hours that Christ is alive and dies on the cross are associated with the watches. Right. And then of course the rooster crowing. And it's a very well-known, um, uh, I, I don't wanna call it a fact 'cause that might be too strong, but it's a pretty accepted, uh, theory in, in the sort of, uh, academic understanding of the, the authors of the Gospels that Mark, uh, Mark actually represents Peter's testimony. That the sort of a- apostolic imprimatur of the Gospel of Mark is actually that M- John Mark, probably while he was ministering with Peter, was being told these, this account, and he's collecting Peter's, Peter's [00:52:00] statements on the events of the Gospel It is very interesting to me that this phrase about the rooster crowing associated with being watchful and ready in the service of the master- Yep would appear particularly in the gospel that's asso- associated with Peter. Right. And I'll throw that out there just as maybe food for a discussion- ... in our Telegram chat, but I do think e- even that is sort of for our benefit, right? Right. We're not talking about, uh, this isn't a parable about what happens when you betray Jesus and hang yourself with a rope, right? This isn't, this isn't Judas who never was a believer. If we're drawing this peril- parallel, this is a parable about Peter, or related to Peter's experience, uh, who was restored, who ultimately had a moment of sleepiness, I guess, both physically and, you know, spiritually here. Had a moment of, of sleepiness, but ultimately was awake when the master came. That's right. And I think, like, there's something there for us to tease out, and, and again, [00:53:00] maybe we'll leave that for the Telegram chat. Maybe that's just for your own personal study. I've done zero commentary work, so maybe this is a connection that I feel- ... is super novel, but actually everyone else makes. Um, but I just thought it was really interesting how closely that language, that sequence of the watchfulness, the watch, sleepiness, awakefulness, and the rooster crows, how closely that lines up to the events that w- would be if we were going through Mark sequentially- Yep ... we would be encountering in just a couple chapters, right? In just chapter 15. They're coming up. Um, we're talking about this exact thing. So it's very interesting to me, is it... The Holy Spirit is amazing in how He has put together this. Yes. Even if, even if that is a super tenuous connection, it's still a connection. And- Agreed ... I have a tough time thinking anyone who's familiar with the, the passion accounts would read this and not go, "Woo." That's a lot of language from the passion account. It's a lot of- Yes ... language related to what happened in just a few chapters.  Jesse Schwamb: Yes. I'm with you. Like we said, there's so much that's within these couple of verses, and you'd have to think if you were reading this with brand-new eyes, [00:54:00] with eyes that never seen this text before, and you were just going straight through, you'd come in just a few short chapters to that whole narrative in Gethsemane and be like, "What? Did he, didn't he just, didn't this guy Jesus just say to them- Like be watchful, stay awake. And here they're... Isn't that ironic? Here they are in the garden, and he said- Yeah ... to them again, "Stay awake." They fall asleep. He comes back, he's like, "Could you not watch for one

Fast analysis of the Clacton by-election with Steve Richards and Andrew Harrison. Two and half cheers for plucky underdog Nigel Farage who defeated the “establishment” candidate Count Binface in a by-election of his own making. And in the end, he didn't even bother to show up to claim his victory… Now the stunt is over, the parliamentary standards watchdog is back investigating Farage's £5m “gift” from a crypto billionaire. So was this entire exercise completely futile? Could Farage's own gambit come back to bite him? And with his – and Reform's – polling slipping, has the tide finally turned? • Buy tickets for Steve's 14-day Rock & Roll Politics run at the Edinburgh Fringe • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Group Editor Andrew Harrison with Steve Richards. Produced by James Liddell. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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!

Barring a bin-shaped asteroid strike on the Essex Coast, Nigel Farage will win the Clacton by-election – but his problems won't be over. What will Reform's slippery leader face in the months to come? And can, should, would his party strike a deal with either Restore or the Conservatives? Plus our special guest, journalist Rachel Wearmouth, has the date of the next General Election, for real! And we answer a wealth of YOUR questions in a But Your Emails special.  • Get up to £350 off the Eight Sleep Pod 5 here with the code OGWN.  • Don't miss the Clacton By-Election Emergencycast on Friday 14 August.  • Order the unofficial Count Binface comic here • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel has been watching the Disney+ crime thriller Furious   • Seth has been re-watching classic psychedelic '60s spy show The Prisoner.  • Jason played Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians with Paraorchestra and Charles Hazlewood and you can hear it on BBC Sounds   • Andrew has been listening to the Richard Norris remixes collection Re-Make: Re-Model www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow  Presented by Andrew Harrison with Seth Thévoz and Jason Hazeley. Audio Production by Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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  

No drinking pints standing up in London's nightlife hotspot? No new reservoirs until 2040? Welcome to Veto Britain – where infrastructure, housing and even a round at the bar are all subject to the mercy of endless local objection. So how did we become a country that seems incapable of building, changing or enjoying itself anymore? Plus, racist disorder erupts in Norfolk, scrutiny of Andy Burnham's early prisoner release plan intensifies and the PM's crackdown on “subscription traps” gives cancel culture a whole new meaning.  • Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  ESCAPE ROUTES • Jonn finally watched Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine's documentary Last Chance to See, based on Carwardine and Douglas Adams' book and radio series of the same name • Rachel has been reading Virgil's epic The Aeneid – “the Roman response to Homer,” she says. • Raf saw a production of Molière's Tartuffe while in France which is coming to the Marylebone Theatre next month.  • Zoë zoomed through Jem Calder's I Want You to Be Happy Image: Cartoon depicting Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet of Brayton (1829-1906), an English temperance campaigner and radical, anti-imperialist Liberal Party politician. Dated 19th Century. No idea who the bloke on the right is. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Zoë Grünewald, with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Rafael Behr. Produced by James Liddell. Audio Production: Tom Taylor. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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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  

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  

We hope you enjoyed this episode.If you haven't yet, make sure to leave a review and let us know your thoughts on the content this week. Also, make sure to add our podcast to your library if you haven't yet, so you don't miss our weekly content. Also, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seedgiver.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and consider becoming a part of this missions initiative. With your spare change, you can change the world!

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  

The earth is burning, Britain is parched brown and rain is a distant memory. Yet the Tories are purging the last of their Net Zero advocates, the Greens seem to have lost interest in green policies, and Burnham's Labour are teetering on the edge of reopening oil and gas in the North Sea. Saving the planet is just so expensive! What will it take to get British politicians to take the climate emergency seriously?   Plus, will the real Kemi Badenoch please sit down? The current and quite possibly final leader of the Conservative Party stood by convicted neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a local council candidate (he withdraws right in the middle of this recording). So how come the commentariat is convinced of the “Keminaissance”?  ESCAPE ROUTES: • Zoë has been reading Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth.  • Seth has been to Bayreuth for the Festival (hurry, it's still on). • Ros got a preview copy of Deep Into The Sixties: Britain 1965–66 by David Kynaston • Rachel has been reading Pagans by James Alistair Henry. Questions for But Your Emails? Thoughts? Comments? Email us at ogwn@podmasters.co.uk.  • Find out if you're owed on car finance at refundclub.co.uk/OGWN  • Refund Club is a trading style of Sandsford Law Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA no. 8008114). Checking is free. A fee is payable only if your claim is successful. Eligibility: car finance taken out in the UK between 2007 and 2021. The average claim is around £829 per agreement; this is an average and not a guarantee of the amount you will receive. You can also claim yourself for free by contacting your lender or the Financial Ombudsman Service. refundclub.co.uk/OGWN   www.patreon.com/ohgodwhatnow Presented by Ros Taylor with Zoë Grünewald, Rachel Cunliffe and Seth Thévoz. Audio Production by Chris Jones. Art direction: James Parrett. Theme tune by Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We hope you enjoyed this episode.If you haven't yet, make sure to leave a review and let us know your thoughts on the content this week. Also, make sure to add our podcast to your library if you haven't yet, so you don't miss our weekly content. Also, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seedgiver.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and consider becoming a part of this missions initiative. With your spare change, you can change the world!

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  

Song parody of "Reflection" from Mulan.  ----------------------------------Support Sexie Show!  patreon.com/sexieshowCome to Battlestrip 12: FunLeashed on Friday, August 7th!  Message me on Insta or FetLife for ticket info!------------------------------------------------------------------Lyrics (Spoilers Below!):Look at me.  I'm about to be fucking this woman who is out of my league.  Pressure's on.  Please don't let me blow my shot.  She's ready, so I wrap it up as she spreads her legs.  Then her dog walks in the room.  My god, that dog's ugly.  Staring straight back at me.  Where did my erection go once I slid inside?  His good eye is yellow and dry while his other one oozes bloody black gunk.  And somehow his dead crusty tongue has enough strength left to slurp up the eye gunk shit.And then the girl with me gets real mad so she asks me “Why is your attention on my dog Guapo?”So I tell a small lie and say he's a cutie pie.  Then that dog's erection grows.  Oh God.  Fuck my life.I plead with her “Give me one more try.  I can get turned on if you turn off the lights.”We rekindle our lust.  My dick's hard.  It's time to thrust.  So I grab a glob of lube and slide inside.  She's loving it and I'm shocked I lasted a long time.  That sex was perfection so let's turn on the lights.  Oh no.  The lube for my erection came from Guapo's gunky eye.[sobs understandably]

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 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: Introduction Welcome to the August 5th episode of Daily Radio Bible. On this 218th day of our journey through the Scriptures, Hunter invites listeners from around the globe to gather and warm their hearts by the fire of God's love. In today's readings, we witness King Josiah's remarkable reforms in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, including his renewal of the covenant, the purging of idolatry, and a historic celebration of Passover. We then turn to John 7, where Jesus reveals himself as the source of living water during the Festival of Shelters, declaring the fulfillment of prophetic promises and inviting all who are thirsty to come to him. Join Hunter as we explore these transformative moments in Scripture and enter a time of prayer, reflection, and encouragement, remembering that no matter where you are, you are loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Rivers of living water. As the Festival of Shelters reached its height, the priests poured out water on the altar, a symbol drawn from the prophets: a promise that one day, God would pour out his Spirit on all people, quenching the thirsty and reviving the dry and weary. In the context of this ancient ritual, Jesus stands up and declares with authority and longing: "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believes in me may come and drink, for the Scriptures declare rivers of living water will flow from his heart." All the anticipation, all the longing embedded in the festival's water ceremony—Jesus claims it is fulfilled in him. He does not come to make a name for himself, or to satisfy the expectations of his brothers or the crowds longing for fame or power. His purpose is deeper—his mission is to pour out the Spirit, the true living water, into the lives of all who would come to him. Jesus is concerned with what the Father desires: to seek, to save, to invite humanity into the fellowship he shares with the Father and the Spirit. This river is not merely for our refreshment. Christ's living water flows through us and into the world—to heal, to bring hope, to bear fruit. If we receive him, if we trust that the Scriptures find their meaning in him, we find that he, in turn, finds meaning in us—and not just us, but all people. The Spirit he pours out is abundant and free, life that cannot be constrained or manufactured, but must be received. Let us come to Jesus, the source of living water. Let us allow his Spirit to flow in and through us, bearing fruit and offering life to a thirsty world. Let us not seek to be noticed or praised, but let our lives be channels of mercy, compassion, and blessing—evidence of his abiding presence and love. That is a prayer I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, 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: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 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 for August 4th, day 217 in our journey through scripture. Join your Bible reading coach Hunter as we unite from around the world to reflect on God's Word and the love that holds us together. In today's episode, we delve into the story of King Josiah's rediscovery of the lost Book of the Law in the temple, explore his deep repentance and the spiritual renewal of a nation, and move into John chapter 6 where Jesus reveals himself as the true bread of life. Together, we'll meditate on what it means to recognize God's presence at work—sometimes hidden in plain sight—and to find ultimate satisfaction in him. Settle in as we open our hearts, seek understanding, and renew our faith in the living Word. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The living Word, hidden in plain sight. For generations, the Word of God was lost among God's people—lost, tragically, in the very place you'd expect to find it: the temple. It was there, but no one was looking. No one was listening. Eventually, King Josiah would find it, and with it, a deep awareness of God's presence and his own need for mercy. In our reading from John, we encounter a similar pattern: Jesus, the living Word, is right among his people in the synagogue, but still seems hidden from them. They watch miracles unfold before their eyes—the feeding of the multitudes, healings, signs—and yet they do not see or believe. Only God reveals God. Miraculous signs point to Jesus as the one who truly satisfies, the bread of life come down from heaven. But so often, we can lose sight of him amid the ruins of our own lives—our painful pasts, our self-centered paths. Even among God's own people, we can miss him, as if he's hidden in plain sight. We chase after perishable things, obsessing over what fills our bellies, our desires, our plans. Yet Jesus gently calls us to fix our gaze upon him, to seek what only he can give: true, eternal life. If we take our eyes off ourselves, even for a moment, we might see the one who is standing before us—the one who can truly fill us. Jesus calls us to trust him, to rely on him rather than our own strength. Like Peter, who, when confronted by the miraculous catch of fish, fell to his knees acknowledging his need for grace; like Josiah, who, upon finding the Word, tore his clothes and sought God's mercy—so we too are called to humble ourselves, to see what has always been waiting for us. Are you seeing the Word of God that is right before you? The God who provides, who is merciful, who has come down for you? He is not hidden from you. He longs to satisfy you with his bread. May you find the living Word right in front of you today. May you take and eat, and be truly satisfied. That is the prayer I hold for my own soul, 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  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  Nahum 1–3; 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 August 3rd episode of the Daily Radio Bible. Today's conversation focused on day 215 in the Journey Through the Scriptures, inviting listeners from around the world to gather around the Word in search of Jesus, the true source of life. The discussion explored readings from Nahum chapters 1–3 and John 5, delving into themes of justice, restoration, and the love of God. One concept discussed was how Scripture points not just to law or judgment but directly to Jesus, who was present with love and healing even when unrecognized. A key theme that emerged was the invitation to let God's love reshape hearts and minds, setting aside the burdens of control and rule-keeping for a living relationship with Christ. The episode concluded with communal prayers, encouragement, and an affirmation that no matter where you are on your journey, you are deeply loved by God. Welcome to the August 3rd episode of the Daily Radio Bible. Today's conversation focused on day 215 in the Journey Through the Scriptures, inviting listeners from around the world to gather around the Word in search of Jesus, the true source of life. The discussion explored readings from Nahum chapters 1–3 and John 5, delving into themes of justice, restoration, and the love of God. One concept discussed was how Scripture points not just to law or judgment but directly to Jesus, who was present with love and healing even when unrecognized. A key theme that emerged was the invitation to let God's love reshape hearts and minds, setting aside the burdens of control and rule-keeping for a living relationship with Christ. The episode concluded with communal prayers, encouragement, and an affirmation that no matter where you are on your journey, you are deeply loved by God. 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 21; 2 Chronicles 33; 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, dear friends, to the August 2nd episode of the Daily Radio Bible. I'm Hunter, your Bible reading coach, and I'm grateful to spend this time with you as we journey together through God's Word. Today, we turn our hearts to the stories of King Manasseh and Amon from 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33—stories of failure, repentance, and grace—before joining Jesus at Jacob's well in John chapter 4. We'll witness a Samaritan woman's thirst for living water and discover Christ's mercy and acceptance that quenches our deepest needs. Come let the scriptures guide us to the One who is the Living Word, and let's open our hearts to the life that only He can give. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He knows everything, and he loves us just the same. Are you thirsty? He knows. And you have a kind and merciful Savior who's making a point of pursuing your heart to give you the water that will quench your desperate thirst. So drink well of that water. Remember that your Messiah is kind and he pursues your heart. Knowing everything you've ever done and loving you just the same. Live in the light and joy of him and drink well. Thirsty? This woman was, and she was willing to admit it. She wasn't too proud to admit that she was thirsty. Yes, teacher, give me this water, she said. She knew that she was dying of thirst, that unless something changed, she would die. After five husbands, she was dying inside. But Jesus offers her this living water. Water that truly satisfies. Jesus mercifully offers those who are dying of thirst living water, relief from the endless cycle of sin and shame, sin and shame, sin and shame, relief from our past, forgiveness. She says, he told me everything I've ever done. And although these words were not written, you could complete the statement with these words: And he loved me just the same. It was this radical acceptance and forgiveness from a kind and merciful Messiah that delivered her from her desperate thirst. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, 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:  Isaiah 65–66; Psalm 62; 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 Daily Radio Bible! On this first day of August and day 214 of our journey through the scriptures, Hunter, your Bible reading coach, guides us through a rich set of passages: Isaiah 65 and 66, Psalm 62, and John chapter 3. In today's episode, we reflect on God's steadfast love, His plans for restoration, and the call to spiritual renewal. Hunter offers encouragement from God's Word, leads us in prayer, and reminds us of the transformative power of being known and loved by God—no matter what's in our hearts. Stay tuned for times of scripture, reflection, and community as we begin a new month together, grounded in the assurance that we are deeply loved by God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He knows and loves us, even before we speak. There's a comfort and a deep transformation that comes from realizing this truth. We often carry the fear that if people saw into our hearts—if they saw our selfishness, our brokenness, our shame—they would turn away. And to have those things exposed before God himself can be a terrifying thought. But with Jesus, it is different. He is not surprised by what is within us. There is nothing hidden from him, and yet he does not recoil. Instead, he welcomes us and begins the work of making us new. When we understand, as John did, that Jesus knows us completely and loves us fully, that changes everything. It's the start of something new being created within us—a renovation of the heart. God moves in with his transforming love and begins to craft something beautiful where fear and shame once held sway. The beginning of hope is not found in us hiding our true selves, but in believing we are already known and already loved. May God convince us more and more of his knowledge of us, and of his love. May that experience not undo us, but instead begin a new creation in us—a newness shaped by his grace and presence. He is recreating hearts and writing a new story, one where his love is the foundation and the future. That is the prayer that I have for my own soul. That is the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, for my daughters, for 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