Listener's Audio Bible Devotional Podcast

Psalm 105Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The Parable of the Growing SeedHe also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” The Parable of the Mustard SeedAgain he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

The Word Became FleshIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in bloodwill be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Comfort for God’s PeopleComfort, comfort my people, says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Comfort for God’s PeopleComfort, comfort my people, says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for,that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him.Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.