3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.
Open the Bible UK Daily
Claim This Podcastby Colin Smith
5.0(2 reviews)
1,079 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇬🇧
Podcast Overview
3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/2/2023
1 verified phone number on file for Open the Bible UK Daily
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 13, 2026
When Your Life Is Slipping Away, This Will Be the Only Question That Matters
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The word of the LORD came to [Isaiah]: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah… I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”</h2><br><h2 style="text-align: center;">2 Kings 20:4-5</h2><p>Here in 2 Kings, we get a fuller picture of what happened. Hezekiah is at the point of death, and Isaiah says, “Set your house in order, for you shall die.” Hezekiah turns to the wall and prays (20:1-2).</p><p>Isaiah leaves, but God says, “Turn back, and say… I will heal you” (20:5). Isaiah hadn’t even left the palace, so this was an immediate answer to prayer!</p><p>Isaiah says to the king, “God will heal you, and on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord” (20:5). When Hezekiah asks for a sign, Isaiah says that God will do something only He can do. He will turn back the sun’s shadow (20:9).</p><p>So, what we have here is the story of a godly king at the point of death. God heard his prayer and raised him up on the third day.</p><p>The whole Bible points to Jesus Christ, the great king. He wasn’t just at the point of death. He died! Raising the dead is something that only God can do, and on the third day, God raised Him up!</p><p>Friend, a day will come when life is slipping away from you. Only one question will matter: “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?” (Isa. 38:22).</p><p>Jesus said, “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn. 6:40).</p><p>That is the hope of the gospel. And it can be your hope if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.</p><br><p style="text-align: center;"><b><b>Do you have this hope and assurance that when your days are done, you will go up to the house of the Lord?</b></b></p>
July 12, 2026
Things That Only God Can Do
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”</h2><br><h2 style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 38:22</h2><p>Hezekiah was sick and “at the point of death” (38:1). It must have been hard to believe that God would heal him. So, God gave him a sign.</p><p><i>“Behold, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.” So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined</i> (38:8).</p><p>In the ancient world, people used sundials to tell time. It seems that Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had built steps, and as the sun was setting, the shadows would creep down the steps.</p><p>God said to Hezekiah, “I will give you this sign. I will make the shadow move <b>up</b> the steps. I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz <i>turn back</i> ten steps.”</p><p>Imagine Hezekiah lying in his bed, at the point of death. And he looks out of the window… The shadows are lengthening, but then the shadow moves in the opposite direction. Only God could do such a thing, and Hezekiah thinks to himself, <i>Maybe there is hope!</i></p><p>Why did God give this extraordinary sign? “This shall be the sign to you from <i>the LORD</i>, that <i>the LORD</i> will do this thing that he has promised” (38:7).</p><p>God is saying, “Hezekiah, I am going to heal you. And I want you to know that I am the One who did it. I don’t want you thinking it was the figs! So, I am going to give you a sign by doing something that only I could do.” There are some things only God can do, so trust what He has promised.</p><br><p style="text-align: center;"><b><b>What promise of God do you need to trust today?</b></b></p>
July 11, 2026
Thank God When He Makes the Means Effective
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.”</h2><br><h2 style="text-align: center;">2 Kings 20:5</h2><p>There are two ways to lose the path of wisdom. One is to forget the means that God uses. The other is to forget that it is God who uses the means.</p><p>Isaiah said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil” (Isa. 38:21). But God said, “Behold I will heal you.”</p><p>So, when Hezekiah recovers, he is not going to say, “That fig paste is the most marvellous potion!” No, he is going to give thanks to God, because he knows that it was God who made the fig paste effective. When you know that God works through means, you will be grateful for the means, but you will give glory to God who used them.</p><p>These words will help you pray for yourself and others:</p><ul><li><strong>Health</strong>: If you are ill, use the means God has provided, and pray that He will work through the means. Lord, use this medicine to make her well. Lord, use this chemotherapy to heal his cancer.</li><li><strong>Employment</strong>: If you lose your job, use the means available to find a job, and pray that God will work through the means. Lord, help me to persevere in networking with others, and use the connections that you have given me to open a door for new work.</li><li><strong>Parenting</strong>: Lord, use these parents to guide their children.</li><li><strong>Church leaders</strong>: Lord, grant wisdom to the elders and enable them to effectively guard the church.</li></ul><br/><p>When you grasp that God works through means, it will shape how you pray. You will be grateful for the way God works through the means, and you will give glory to Him.</p><br><p style="text-align: center;"><b><b>How are you praying about your own situation? What are you asking of God? Remember to give glory to Him when He works through means.</b></b></p>
1,079 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Open the Bible UK Daily
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Open the Bible UK Daily?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.