TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18 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,...
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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.
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