TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 12–14; Revelation 5 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...
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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! 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.
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