August 31st, 25: Keep Looking for the Lamb: Finding Hope and Renewal in the Scriptures

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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! In today’s episode for August 31st, guest host Heather leads us through a meaningful journey in Scripture, focusing on Ezekiel chapters 12 to 14 and Revelation chapter 5. Heather invites listeners from around the globe to pause and reflect—not just on the words themselves, but on the way they point us to Jesus, the true source of life. Together, we dig into themes of rebellion, judgment, and hope, witnessing God’s faithfulness even in times of despair.

As the episode unfolds, Heather unpacks the powerful vision of the Lamb in Revelation, emphasizing that when our first look at the world prompts tears and confusion, we are called to look again—to see the redeeming love of Christ who steps forward on our behalf. Through scripture, thoughtful reflection, and earnest prayer, this episode encourages us to keep seeking, keep worshiping, and keep discovering the deep love of God that restores and renews us each day.

Join us as we pray together, hold onto hope, and remember that no matter where we are in our story, we are deeply loved.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

At first look, you might weep, but you need to look again. And again we look for answers to the judgment that life is sure to bring—the rebellion that is borne out in each human heart, and the destruction that comes from our own selfish ways. When we take that first look, we are going to weep because we don't have an answer. John didn’t have an answer either. He weeps because he realizes that within himself he has no answer to judgment. No one has been found worthy. No one has stepped forward on behalf of this broken and rebellious world. John weeps for himself and his nation, but an elder stops him from weeping.

He’s told by this elder to take a second look. In this second look, he is going to see an answer. And the answer is not what you would think. The answer is the Lamb. He says, stop weeping. Look. This Lamb steps forward to take the scroll that represents the fury of judgment that this broken and rebellious world has brought on themselves. He’s not led or pushed forward. He steps forward because of the love he has for his broken world and for broken people like me and you.

This Lamb steps forward to take the scroll representing the judgment due this world. The Lamb is the only one who has the answer for the judgment I deserve in this life. That scroll was nailed with him on the cross. As it were, on the cross he opened the scroll and answered the charges written on it. He absorbed the fury of our judgments. He answered it all with self-giving, radically forgiving, co-suffering love. That’s what we are asked to look at again.

Then John is told to look a third time. This third look shows him all that the Lamb has accomplished by stepping forward. He sees a vision of people from every tribe and tongue and language, countless millions around the throne, worshiping and adoring the Lamb.

Keep looking. When you don’t see an answer in the midst of your tears, keep looking. If you look, you will see a Lamb. He alone has the answer you’re looking for. He is the answer to your despair and shame, your broken heart and your regrets. He is the answer for it all. He has stepped forward for you out of love, to do what he alone can do. We need to look again—a third time. Then we will see that the Lamb has stepped forward for countless millions of others, other broken and rebellious people like us. He is making them new, restoring their hearts, drying their tears and giving them a new song.

Worthy is the Lamb. May God enable us to sing this new song today. And may he cause us to look, and look, and look again.

That’s a prayer I have for my own soul. That’s a 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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