Stay ConnectedThe On Ramp Daily Bible Reading is read by Pastor David Harms, and is a podcast production from Hope Media Group.
Copyright: © Copyright Way Nation
Today we’re reading Genesis 20 from the New Living Translation.
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“she is my sister…”
Sarah was in her 90’s. And King Abimelech of Gerar wanted her.
Abraham was hiding behind a half-truth.
Motivated by fear, he argued, “she really is my sister...” (vs 12).
Only he had left out the other part - that he had married her.
APPLY:
A half truth is always a lie. God knew that - and he loved Abraham and Sarah too much to let them get by with it.
Not only did God expose the lie - he also blew Abraham’s cover - telling Abimelech, “Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, FOR HE IS A PROPHET” (vs 7).
Abraham, despite being a prophet, was still a sinner.
And it’s important to note that Abraham’s lie didn’t absolve Abimelech of responsibility for his actions. He was still wrong.
In the end, Abraham prayed for Abimelech and God brought healing to that community. Whew. Close call. Abraham and Sarah are on the verge of finally seeing God’s promise to them fulfilled in the birth of Isaac & we’ll read about that in the next chapter.
But for now, when God exposes something in our lives, that’s his discipline - and he does it because he loves us.
MEDITATE:
Psalm 94:12 “Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.”
PRAY:
Jesus, teach us to love the truth.
What's your application?
Today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
Today we’re reading John 20 from the New Living Translation.
I’m reflecting on verse 31.
“But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.“
The word, “believe” in English is the Greek word “πιστεύω” (*pisteuō*). It means: “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.”
The stories of all the miraculous things that Jesus did - including his resurrection - were recorded so that you and I would “continue” to be persuaded of the truth of who Jesus is - and place our full confidence in Him as Savior.
Why "continue to believe?" The writer of Hebrews said it like this: "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1).
Drifting is a real thing - and I'm praying for you and I today that if there has been some drifting going on in our hearts, that we'll come back quickly to Jesus.
Today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
I'm gonna be real - this was a tough chapter to read.
Today, we’re reading Genesis 19 from the New Living Translation.
If you compare Abraham and Lot, you’ll see that Abraham lived apart from the culture - in a tent. Lot lived with the culture - sitting at the city entrance - and calling the men of the city his “brothers.” He was even willing to sacrifice his daughters to appease them. It appears that Sodom had a strong influence on their family. Lot was hesitant to leave, his wife looked back, and his daughters seem to have picked up a rather warped worldview.
Ezekiel 16:49 says this - “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness…”
It is a terrible story of prideful men with no accountability, doing whatever they wanted with whomever they wanted.
The people we choose as our influencers matter. The people our kids choose as their influencers matter.
That said, here’s an interesting connection:
The child that Lot had with his oldest daughter was named Moab. While the Moabites became Israel’s enemies, there was one Moabite woman many years later named Ruth.
Ruth (who had been widowed) followed her mother-in-law back to the land of Judah, saying “your people will be my people, and your God will by my God.” She met a man named Boaz, whom she married. Boaz & Ruth had a child named Obed. Obed had a child named Jesse. And Jesse became the father of King David. Eventually from this family with a Moabite mother, the Messiah would come - Jesus.
What application do you see for your life? Today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
Today, we’re reading John 19 from the New Living Translation.
This chapter is sacred ground. Jesus was falsely condemned to death. Twice in these verses, Pilate pronounced him “not guilty” (vs 4, 6). Pilate was afraid of what was happening (vs 8), and he tried to release Jesus (vs 12).
Yet the people demanded that he be crucified because he called himself the Son of God (vs 7).
And so - Jesus was whipped, made to wear a crown of thorns, and nailed to a cross.
Isaiah 53 was written around 700 years before the time of Jesus, yet it describes in great detail many of the things he experienced during the crucifixion. Isaiah 53 also pre-dates crucifixion by several hundred years.
Here is what Isaiah 53:10-11 says:
“But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous.”
Another interesting connection - following the crucifixion, we see two men come to take the body of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders (see John 9:22 & 12:42-43). The other was Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night (John 3).
Both of these guys became followers of Jesus - and eventually came to the cross to show their love.
What application do you see? Today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
Today, we’re reading Genesis 18 from the New Living Translation.
In verse 19, God said this about Abraham: “I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just.”
The LORD separated Abraham out from all the others “so that”…
Abraham was set apart for a purpose - and that purpose was to lead his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD.
What application do you see for your life? Today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
Today, we’re reading John 18 from the New Living Translation.
I’m thinking about verse 37…. One of the greatest ways we can show love to others is by telling the truth.
Jesus came to share an awful truth —> you and I have sinned.
But Jesus also shared a wonderful truth —> you and I can be forgiven.
Sugar-coating a terrible reality is not love. Jesus did no such thing. He told people the truth because he loved them.
Despite believing that Jesus was innocent, Pilate asked “what is truth?” He then proceeded to lean into the popular opinion of people he wanted to keep happy.
We each have to decide for ourselves what we are going to do with the truth that Jesus shared.
What's your application?
Today is your "On Ramp!"
Shawn.
Ps -
This podcast is sponsored by the New Living Translation from Tyndale House Publishers. Click the link to find out more.
Today we’re reading John 17 from the New Living Translation.
Before Jesus was betrayed in the garden of Gethsemane, here are some of the things he prayed for:
He prayed for his disciples.
He prayed for their protection by the power of his name.
He prayed that by the power of his name, they would be unified.
He prayed that they would be holy through obedience to his Word.
He prayed for all believers everywhere who would believe their testimony - that they would be one together - united by the truth they’ve received.
He prayed that their unity would give proof to the world that Jesus is the Messiah.
Listen now - today is your "On Ramp!"
Shawn.
Today we’re reading Genesis 17 from the New Living Translation.
R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY)
READ: Here are some things that stood out to me.
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