July 4th, 25:Independence Day Reflections: God’s Final Word of Love and Belonging

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• TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 15-16; Hosea 1 ; Hebrews 1
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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, and happy Fourth of July to all our listeners tuning in today! In this episode, your host Hunter invites you to join him as he journeys through day 186 of the year, reading from 2 Kings 15 and 16, Hosea 1, and Hebrews 1. Together, you'll witness the tumultuous reigns of Israel and Judah's kings, the heartache and prophecy in the story of Hosea, and the ultimate message of hope and love declared in the opening chapter of Hebrews. Hunter encourages us to hear not just words of judgment, but Christ’s words of belonging and love spoken over our lives. As you listen, you'll be guided through prayer, reflection, and a reminder that—no matter where you are or what day it is—you are truly loved. So grab your Bible, settle in, and let’s let the Scripture shape our hearts today.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God’s final word is not judgment, but life. Throughout the long story of Israel, we see a heartbreaking pattern—God reaching out in love through the prophets, but the people turning away again and again. The story we heard today, through the tragedy of Hosea and Gomer, is a vivid picture of this unfaithfulness: Israel behaving like a wayward spouse, wandering far from her first love. The consequences are deeply painful—names like “Not Loved” and “Not My People” are spoken over Israel, words that carry the weight of loss and separation from God.

But God doesn’t leave the story there. His final word to us isn’t one of rejection or shame. The book of Hebrews begins by telling us that, though God once spoke through the prophets, now he has spoken to us by his Son. And the words that Christ speaks over us are utterly different. They are words of embrace, words of forgiveness and peace, words that say, “You are my people and you are loved.”

Through Jesus, God has made a way for us to come home. Not by our own striving, not by following a set of laws or rituals, but by receiving the gift of his love and belonging poured out through Christ. The words that once named us “outsiders” are replaced by the words of the gospel: “Beloved, you belong.” Wherever the message of Jesus is received, hearts are changed. The reality of belonging, being chosen and loved by God, takes root deep inside, and everything changes.

So today, hold fast to these words that Jesus speaks over you. Don’t let the old words of judgment or shame take hold. Let the gospel’s word—“You are mine, you are loved”—sink in and bring you peace. That is my prayer for my own soul today. That is my prayer for my family—for my wife, my daughters, my son. A