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One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark...
One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you.
TODAY'S EPISODE:
Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast, where we journey through the Bible together with the hope of transformation through love. I'm your host, Hunter, your brother and Bible reading coach. Today is March 1st, 2025, and we're on day 61 of our adventure through the scriptures. Over the next year, we'll explore the entire Bible, delving into the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice, with the ultimate goal of being transformed by love. In today's episode, we'll dive into Numbers chapters 28 and 29 and Mark chapter 8, experiencing God's word as we seek healing, encouragement, and a deeper understanding of His love. Join us as we reflect on the unceasing sacrifices detailed in Numbers and the story of Jesus' miraculous provision and teachings in Mark. Together, let's open our hearts to the transformative power of God's word.
TODAY'S DEVOTION:
The burden of sacrifices and the freedom in His love. As we journeyed through the passages in Numbers today, my heart couldn't help but feel the weight of the continuous requirements for sacrifices—an endless list of offerings meant to keep us in right standing with God. However, it's enlightening to realize that all these detailed instructions point to the futility of trying to achieve righteousness through our efforts alone. It’s a heavy message, yet profoundly important.
We see in these communal and personal sacrifices, a vivid picture of an exhausting attempt to appease, to please, and to account for our shortcomings. Yet, the blood of bulls and lambs is not the culmination of our story. The truth that Hebrews 10:4 reminds us of is that it’s not possible for the blood of animals to take away sins. A far greater sacrifice is necessary—a sacrifice rooted not in obligation but in the extravagant, self-giving love of God.
God doesn't demand a never-ending cycle of sacrifices because He delights in suffering. No, He desires to show us His love through the ultimate sacrifice—His own son. Jesus came to lay down His life, revealing the true heart of our Creator—a God who chooses to redeem us with His love. It's not obligation that drives God, it is pure, unceasing love. This is the real message embedded in the pages of these ancient texts.
When Jesus spoke to His disciples in Mark 8 about His impending sacrifice, they didn't understand. They were entrenched in a mindset that was hard to break free from—seeing things from a human perspective rather than God's. Yet, Jesus invites us to take up our cross, not as a burdensome task, but as an invitation to live into the story of love—a love that conquers death and offers life.
The cross is a channel of transformation, a declaration of God’s love and victory. When Jesus says to take up your cross, He is beckoning us to live out His message of grace and life-changing love. It’s not about picking up burdens but embracing the freedom and new life that His death and resurrection bring. It’s about letting His love permeate us, meet us in our weakest moments, and overflow from us into the world.
In embracing His love, we find our true selves. We find freedom, we find purpose, and we find the powerful life Jesus spoke of. The sacrifice Jesus made was once and for all. Through it, He declared: "You are loved." So let us pick up that love and follow Him.
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.
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