January 8th, 25:Journey of Faith: Abraham's Test, Jesus' Miracles, and Divine Provision

Daily Bible with Hunter & Heather

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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 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. I'm Hunter, your host for today's journey through scripture. In this episode titled "January 8th, 2025," we're diving into powerful stories of faith and obedience from Genesis chapters 20 to 22 and Luke chapter 8. We'll explore the dramatic account of Abraham nearly sacrificing his son Isaac, only to be stopped by an angel and discovering God's provision through a ram. We'll also travel with Jesus as He teaches through parables, performs miracles like calming storms, casting out demons, and healing the sick.

We'll reflect on the deep faith of Abraham and how it shapes our understanding of God's character as a provider, emphasizing the profound lesson that God brings life rather than demanding sacrifice. Along the way, we'll also engage in heartfelt prayer and discuss how these ancient stories apply to our lives today.

Join us as we read, reflect, and are transformed by God's word. Stay tuned, and let's embark on this spiritual journey together.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Unthinkable. Something unthinkable is being asked of Abraham. He's being asked to offer his one and only son that he loves as a sacrifice on this mountain. It's some kind of test of obedience, and it's unthinkable.

But then again, maybe it wasn't altogether unthinkable. Maybe it was entirely conceivable. This culture and many cultures throughout that time and through all time actually have had the practice of offering the blood of a human to pacify or appease or to court the favor of an angry or capricious god. Abraham knows this. He knows that this is what the gods of the culture in his world so often require. But Abraham also knows this, that God, the God he serves, the God who called him to follow, the God who promised him a son, The god who made good on that promise even at the age of a 100 years old. The god who takes him by the hand and says, let's go outside and look at the stars. The blessing that's in store for you is beyond the number of stars in the sky.

The god who meets him at his lowest, at his darkest, in that deepest point of of barrenness. This god, he had learned to walk with and trust, and was not like any other god in the world. Abraham knew that this is not a bloodthirsty god. This is a god of life. This god is not distant. No. He comes to Abraham. And this god is not capricious.

And he's not angry and ready to pounce. This is what other people believe about God, but not Abraham. He believed that God is good. The God who's named on this mountain, Jehovah Jireh, he is the one who meets us in our need, in our shame, in our barren places. He's not like other gods. He does not require that you provide for or spill out or atone for or pacify with your own blood or the blood of those that you love. No. God has another way.

And this god doesn't kill his son. He's not like the other gods. The son instead offers himself. And he's killed by humanity, not his father. And through this offering of his life, he overtakes the evil one. He wins the victory for you and me, and for the sins of the whole world. He defeats the powers of sin and darkness once and for all. Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, god was able to bring him back to life again, because this god is good.

And Abraham believed it. Abraham was asked to do the unthinkable because he knew something that we all should know. The character of God. That God is good. That we can trust him with our lives, that he comes to us in our darkest and most bare places, and he raises us up there into new life. Right there, he meets us. He has achieved this for us on Mount Moriah on the cross. There, he laid down his life for us, and there, he wins for us victory.

The victory that our souls were made for. And the prayer of my heart today is that my eyes will be opened up to see what Abraham sees. The character of our God. I will learn to walk with him the way Abraham has, by walking with the son, who has revealed to me the face of his father. That I will know the embrace of the father and the son and the holy spirit. This life that my soul longs for has been provided for me on the mountain of the lord. Jehovah Jireh. The prayer of my own heart is that I will know this well.

That I'll know the freedom of it, the life of it, the joy of it. And that's a prayer that I have for my family too, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's a prayer that I have for you. May it be so. Let's continue now in a time of prayer

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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