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TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Numbers 34–36; Mark 11
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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 March 4th, 2024 episode, host and Bible Reading Coach Hunter invites us on day 63 of our journey through the scriptures. Today's exploration takes us through Numbers 34–36, where God lays out the boundaries for the Promised Land, assigns cities of refuge, and addresses the inheritance of land among the tribes of Israel. Then, we turn to Mark 11 and witness Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his confrontation in the temple, the mysterious withering of the fig tree, and a powerful lesson on faith and forgiveness.
Along the way, Hunter offers thoughtful reflection on what it means to participate with God—to bear spiritual fruit, even when it seems unreasonable or impossible. The episode closes with prayer, encouragement to invest in your soul, and heartfelt thanks to the faithful community making this daily journey possible. Join in for scripture, prayer, and a reminder that, above all, you are loved.
TODAY'S DEVOTION:
Jesus speaks to the tree and Jesus speaks to his disciples. If you caught me speaking to a tree, you might think that's strange, and you would be right—it is. And yet, Mark tells us the disciples heard him say it. There was something lingering in that moment, something that carried over into the next day when the disciples saw the tree withered from the roots. They had to bring it to Jesus' attention. "Rabbi, look, the tree, it's withered."
Jesus then turns to his disciples and says, "Have faith in God."
There is a mysterious connection in this story between Jesus' words to the tree and his words to his friends. Why does he curse the tree, especially since Mark tells us it wasn't the season for figs? It's a mystery. Yet the tree, which had no fruit, failed to be what it was created to be. The Creator comes, looking for fruit—even out of season. Is it the tree's fault, or is there a deeper lesson here?
We see that the tree was expected to participate with the Creator, to respond to him, to be ready to bear fruit when he came looking—even if it seemed unreasonable. Likewise, to the disciples, Jesus says: "Have faith in God." The Creator walks with his creation and asks us to cooperate, to be and do what we were made for. Does it seem impossible to bring forth fruit, to move mountains, to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply? Not if the Creator asks it of you. Not if the one who has made you and called you his own asks you to walk in this way.
The life of a disciple is a life of participation with God. It is not about magic tricks or parlor games of faith, but about saying yes to God's invitation to be and do what he asks. When you pray, Jesus says, forgive. That's how participation works. Because you are forgiven, loved, and made new, you are invited to participate in his life, to forgive as you have been forgiven, to love as you have been loved, to be fruitful in season and out of season.
This life with God may look strange to the world, but it is so much bigger, freer, and filled with more life than we can imagine. That's a prayer I hold for my own soul, for my family—for my wife, my daughters, my son. And it's a prayer I have for you. May we become who the Creator has made us to be. May we say yes to his call, participate in his life, and find ourselves truly alive.
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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