April 17th, 25: Temptation in the Wilderness and the Power of Union with God

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• TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 19; 1 Chron 7; Ps 59; Matt 4
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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, host Hunter invites us on day 108 of our journey through the Bible, drawing our attention to the living Word—Jesus. We begin with the drama of 1 Samuel 19, where David’s life is under threat from Saul, and witness Jonathan’s loyalty and God’s surprising interventions. Our reading continues through detailed genealogies and stories of faithfulness in 1 Chronicles 7, and then we pause with Psalm 59—a song David penned while fleeing danger, crying out for God’s protection and celebrating his unfailing love. The episode concludes with Jesus’ wilderness temptation in Matthew 4, showing his unwavering dependence on the Father and his victory over evil, inviting us all into union with God’s love. Hunter wraps up with thoughtful reflections, prayer, and encouragement for purposeful soul work, reminding us that transformation happens as we walk together in faith. So, settle in and let today’s Word point your heart to the One who loves you—no doubt about it.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Jesus is out in the desert being tempted by Satan. In the desert, he's demonstrating his union and dependence on his Father and the Spirit. On the outside, it seems that he's alone. And after forty days of no food, on the outside, it might seem that he's becoming weak. And this is the point of Satan's attack. When it appears that he is alone and weak, he challenges Jesus to break with his Father and the Spirit, to save himself, to get what he came for, to abandon the community of love that he shares with his Father and the Spirit, to take the throne of solitary and sovereign power.

This, of course, is where Adam failed. He abandoned the community of love for solitary and sovereign control. And this is where you and I fail. But where we fail, Jesus will not. Seeing our need, he comes and does what we cannot. And because he overcomes, he wins for us our place back into the community of love.

Jesus would not be deterred. He would overcome the temptation by demonstrating his union and utter dependence upon his Father and the Spirit. He would win these battles, and he would win the war. And because he won the war on the cross, all of humanity has been invited into God's community of love. And now he invites us to participate with him, with the Father and the Spirit, victorious with him over the evil one, ready to live a life of dependence upon God, living in the reality of our union with God in Christ.

Union and communion. Victory and joy are ours.

TODAY'S PRAYERS: