Daily Audio Bible - September 24, 2020

To hear Brian Hardin read today's Scripture selection, click here and then click the audio button in the top left. Isaiah 43:14-45:10 The Lord Will Prepare the Way 14 I, the Lord, will rescue you! I am Israel's holy God,     and this is my promise: For your sake, I will send     an army against Babylon to drag its people away,     crying as they go. 15 I am the Lord, your holy God,     Israel's Creator and King. 16 I am the one who cut a path     through the mighty ocean. 17 I sent an army to chase you     with chariots and horses; now they lie dead,     unable to move. They are like an oil lamp     with the flame snuffed out. Forget the Past The Lord said: 18 Forget what happened long ago!     Don't think about the past. 19 I am creating something new.     There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts,     streams in thirsty lands. 20 Every wild animal honors me,     even jackals and owls. I provide water in deserts— streams in thirsty lands     for my chosen people. 21 I made them my own nation,     so they would praise me. 22 I, the Lord, said to Israel: You have become weary,     but not from worshiping me. 23 You have not honored me by sacrificing sheep     or other animals. And I have not burdened you with demands for sacrifices     or sweet-smelling incense. 24 You have not brought     delicious spices for me or given me the best part     of your sacrificed animals. Instead, you burden me down     with your terrible sins. 25 But I wipe away your sins     because of who I am. And so, I will forget     the wrongs you have done. 26 Meet me in court! State your case and prove     that you are right. 27 Your earliest ancestor and all of your leaders     rebelled against me. 28 That's why I don't allow     your priests to serve me; I let Israel be destroyed     and your people disgraced. The Lord's Promise to Israel 44 People of Israel, I have chosen you     as my servant. 2 I am your Creator. You were in my care     even before you were born. Israel, don't be terrified! You are my chosen servant,     my very favorite. 3 I will bless the thirsty land     by sending streams of water; I will bless your descendants     by giving them my Spirit. 4 They will spring up like grass or like willow trees     near flowing streams. 5 They will worship me     and become my people. They will write my name     on the back of their hands. 6 I am the Lord All-Powerful, the first and the last,     the one and only God. Israel, I have rescued you!     I am your King. 7 Can anyone compare with me? If so, let them speak up     and tell me now. Let them say what has happened since I made my nation     long ago, and let them tell     what is going to happen. 8 Don't tremble with fear! Didn't I tell you long ago?     Didn't you hear me? I alone am God— no one else is a mighty rock. Idols Can't Do a Thing The Lord said: 9 Those people who make idols     are nothing themselves, and the idols they treasure     are just as worthless. Worshipers of idols are blind,     stupid, and foolish. 10 Why make an idol or an image     that can't do a thing? 11 Everyone who makes idols and all who worship them     are mere humans, who will end up     sadly disappointed. Let them face me in court     and be terrified. Idols and Firewood 12 A metalworker shapes an idol by using a hammer     and heat from the fire. In his powerful hand     he holds a hammer, as he pounds the metal     into the proper shape. But he gets hungry and thirsty     and loses his strength. 13 Some woodcarver measures a piece of wood,     then draws an outline. The idol is carefully carved     with each detail exact. At last it looks like a person     and is placed in a temple. 14 Either cedar, cypress, oak, or any tree from the forest     may be chosen. Or even a pine tree planted by the woodcarver     and watered by the rain. 15 Some of the wood is used to make a fire for heating     or for cooking. One piece is made into an idol, then the woodcarver bows down     and worships it. 16 He enjoys the warm fire and the meat that was roasted     over the burning coals. 17 Afterwards, he bows down     to worship the wooden idol. "Protect me!" he says.     "You are my god." 18 Those who worship idols are stupid and blind! 19 They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, "I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?" 20 How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes? No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods? The Lord Won't Forget His People 21 People of Israel, you are my servant,     so remember all of this. Israel, I created you, and you are my servant.     I won't forget you. 22 Turn back to me!     I have rescued you and swept away your sins     as though they were clouds. Sing Praises to the Lord 23 Tell the heavens and the earth     to start singing! Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest     to join in the song! The Lord has rescued his people;     now they will worship him. The Lord Created Everything 24 Israel, I am your Lord. I am your source of life,     and I have rescued you. I created everything from the sky above     to the earth below. 25 I make liars of false prophets     and fools of fortunetellers. I take human wisdom     and turn it into nonsense. 26 I will make the message     of my prophets come true. They are saying, "Jerusalem     will be filled with people, and the Lord will rebuild     the towns of Judah." 27 I am the one who commands the sea and its streams     to run dry. 28 I am also the one who says, "Cyrus will lead my people     and obey my orders. Jerusalem and the temple     will be rebuilt." Cyrus Obeys the Lord's Commands 45 The Lord said to Cyrus, his chosen one: I have taken hold     of your right hand to help you capture nations     and remove kings from power. City gates will open for you;     not one will stay closed. 2 As I lead you,     I will level mountains and break the iron bars     on bronze gates of cities. 3 I will give you treasures hidden in dark     and secret places. Then you will know that I, the Lord God of Israel,     have called you by name. 4 Cyrus, you don't even know me! But I have called you by name     and highly honored you because of Israel,     my chosen servant. 5 Only I am the Lord!     There are no other gods. I have made you strong,     though you don't know me. 6 Now everyone from east to west will learn that I am the Lord.     No other gods are real. 7 I create light and darkness, happiness and sorrow.     I, the Lord, do all of this. 8 Tell the heavens to send down justice     like showers of rain. Prepare the earth     for my saving power to sprout and produce justice     that I, the Lord, create. The Lord's Mighty Power The Lord said: 9 Israel, you have no right     to argue with your Creator. You are merely a clay pot     shaped by a potter. The clay doesn't ask, "Why did you make me this way?     Where are the handles?" 10 Children don't have the right     to demand of their parents, "What have you done     to make us what we are?" Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society Ephesians 3 Paul's Mission to the Gentiles 3 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you Gentiles. 2 You have surely heard about God's kindness in choosing me to help you. 3 In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4 As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. 5 No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises that God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body. 7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8 I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9 God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. 10 Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom. 11 God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all that Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God by faith. 13 That's why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you. Christ's Love for Us 14 I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15 All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. 16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. 19 I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is. 20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen. Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society Psalm 68:1-18 (A psalm and a song by David for the music leader.) God Will Win the Battle 68 Do something, God! Scatter your hateful enemies.     Make them turn and run. 2 Scatter them like smoke!     When you come near,     make them melt     like wax in a fire. 3 But let your people be happy     and celebrate because of you. 4 Our God, you are the one who rides on the clouds,     and we praise you. Your name is the Lord,     and we celebrate     as we worship you. 5 Our God, from your sacred home     you take care of orphans     and protect widows. 6 You find families     for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free     and let them prosper,     but all who rebel will live     in a scorching desert. 7 You set your people free,     and you led them     through the desert. 8 God of Israel, the earth trembled,     and rain poured down. You alone are the God     who rules from Mount Sinai. 9 When your land was thirsty,     you sent showers     to refresh it. 10 Your people settled there,     and you were generous     to everyone in need. 11 You gave the command,     and a chorus of women told     what had happened: 12 "Kings and their armies     retreated and ran,     and everything they left     is now being divided. 13 And for those who stayed back     to guard the sheep, there are metal doves with silver-coated wings     and shiny gold feathers." 14 God All-Powerful, you scattered the kings     like snow falling     on Mount Zalmon. 15 Our Lord and our God,     Bashan is a mighty mountain     covered with peaks. 16 Why is it jealous of Zion,     the mountain you chose     as your home forever? 17 When you, Lord God, appeared     to your people at Sinai,     you came with thousands     of mighty chariots. 18 When you climbed     the high mountain,     you took prisoners with you     and were given gifts. Your enemies didn't want you to live there,     but they gave you gifts. Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society Proverbs 24:1-2 -19- 24 Don't be jealous of crooks     or want to be their friends. 2 All they think about and talk about     is violence and cruelty. Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society     Bible Gateway Recommendations Buy Now The One Year Adventure with the God of Your Story Did you find this devotional helpful and inspiring? Read the book for more! Copyright Information Daily Audio Bible. Copyright © 2015 Daily Audio Bible. Used by permission.

 

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