Today we’re reading Hebrews 2 from the New Living Translation.

Today we’re reading Genesis 22 from the New Living Translation.

Abraham and Isaac went up that mountain to worship the LORD through sacrifice.
Isaac sensed that something wasn’t right, but Abraham assured his son, “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering….” And that is what he did. A ram took Isaac’s place.

Hebrews 11:19 gives us insight into this man of faith - “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”

This sacrifice was a foreshadow...

Yahweh Yireh - “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Centuries later, all nations on earth would be blessed through another sacrifice on mount Calvary - the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus - that would be provided (in our place) take away the sin of the world.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

If you would like to talk to someone about what it means to follow Jesus, call 281-652-5555.

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.

We’re starting a new book today and it’s one of my favorites! The writer is not identified, but many believe that it was written by the apostle Paul.

The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience - and seeks to connect the dots between many Old Testament truths and the person of Jesus.

One of the themes is that “Jesus is greater,” and in Chapter 1 we see that:
Jesus is greater than the word of the prophets (vs 1-2).
Jesus is greater than our sin (vs 3).
Jesus is greater than the angels (vs 4).

This is an amazing book - full of warnings - and full of promises.

Today we’re reading Hebrews 1 from the New Living Translation.
I hope you listen along - today is your “On Ramp!”
Shawn.

Today we’re reading John 21 from the New Living Translation.

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY)

READ: Here are some things that stood out to me.

• Disciples were frustrated and not catching fish.
• Jesus instructs where to cast the net - and they catch “153 large fish.”
• Jesus makes them breakfast
• Jesus has a conversation with Peter - “Do you love me?”
• Jesus restores Peter and gives him a new job “feed my sheep.”

Back in John 13, Jesus gave a new commandment - the disciples were to love one another as he had loved them. He had just washed their feet in a humble act of service. Moments later Peter declared his love, “I’m ready to die for you!” You know how the evening ended… or, if you’re new to the story, you can read or listen to John 18.

Now in the aftermath of his denial, Peter is face to face with Jesus once again. And as Jesus restored Peter, he gave him one simple task - “feed my sheep.” In other words, “shepherd my people.” Peter became a pillar of the early church. And if you read in the book of Acts, you’ll see this same Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit (just like Jesus promised), and then proclaiming the good news about Jesus BOLDLY like he never had before.

APPLY:
Peter’s story reminds me that Jesus extends the same forgiveness and restoration to anyone who will repent of their sin and come to him. It reminds me that our sin and failure is not the end. Because of the cross, all is forgiven. Because Jesus is risen, we can experience the gift of the Holy Spirit and his power in our lives.

MEDITATE:
1 John 1:9 - Look it up.

PRAY:
Did you mess up really big this week? Don’t stay distant from Jesus. Reach out to him in prayer. Confess it and return back to him.

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 21 from the New Living Translation.

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY)

READ: Here are some things that stood out to me.

• The LORD kept his word (vs 1).
• The promise was kept at just the time God said it would (vs 2).
• Abraham circumcised Isaac in accordance with the terms of the covenant from chapter 17 (vs 4). Obedience in the details matters.
• Abraham was 100 years old (vs 5). There would be no mistake who gets the glory for this!
• This was a miracle that caused joyful laughter (vs 6-7).
• The dynamics between Hagar and Sarah were not good (vs 8-10).
• Abraham viewed Ishmael as his son (vs 11).
• God made a special promise to Abraham about Ishmael (vs 12-13).
• God saw Hagar and heard Ishmael crying (vs 15-20)
• God was with Ishmael (vs 20).

In Genesis 12, God made a promise to Abraham at the age of 75 that he would give him land, that he would make him a great nation (children), and that all nations of the earth would be blessed through him. These promises were repeated at various times in Abraham’s life - see Genesis 15, 17, 18.

In this chapter, 25 years later - Abraham finally sees the fulfillment of the promise about children. It was a promise so crazy to believe that it caused joyful laughter!

But… there was a moment several years prior where Abraham and Sarah tried to help God fulfill the promise - this resulted in a whole lot of heartbreak for Hagar and Ishmael. God never forgot about either of them. He made a special promise to Abraham and Hagar about Ishmael also becoming a great nation - see Genesis 16, 17, 21.

APPLY:
A couple things strike me. Every promise in the Bible will prove true. Are you and I living like we believe that? One more thing - I’m moved by the detail that “God heard the boy crying.” Maybe you’re sad about something today. God cares about the details.

MEDITATE:
Take some time to read and think about Hebrews 11:11-16.

PRAY:
Jesus thank you for being true to your Word & thank you for keeping your promises!

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.

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Today we’re reading Genesis 20 from the New Living Translation.

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY)

READ: Here are some things that stood out to me...
“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.