Episode 940
Beyond Guilt and Shame: Understanding God's Compassionate Presence
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.
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Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.
Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
A profound exploration of 1 John 2:1-6 unfolds as I reflect upon the implications of living love in action. The discourse delves into the radical inclusivity of divine love, emphasizing that Jesus' sacrifice transcends mere belief, offering redemption not only to the faithful but to the entirety of humanity. This perspective invites us to confront exclusionary theologies and instead embrace a vision of God’s love that is accessible to all. As we navigate the complexities of spirituality, the episode underscores the necessity of aligning our actions with our professed beliefs, advocating for a compassionate and just society. John’s assertion that one must keep God’s commandments serves as a clarion call to embody love, urging us to transform our faith into tangible deeds that reflect the essence of Christ's teachings.
In addition to the theological reflections, the episode presents actionable steps for personal engagement. Encouraging listeners to identify and take steps towards addressing social issues that resonate with them, I highlight the importance of translating faith into action, whether through advocacy, support, or dialogue. This practical approach not only enriches our spiritual lives but also reinforces the notion that genuine faith manifests through our interactions with the world around us. By providing guidance on how to embody divine love in our everyday lives, the episode serves as both a theological treatise and a practical manual for living out one’s faith in a complex, often challenging, social landscape.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the imperative of embodying divine love in tangible actions, mirroring Jesus's radical acceptance.
- We are reminded that the divine solution to the sin problem transcends religious boundaries, promoting inclusivity and reconciliation.
- Listeners are encouraged to pursue actions aligning with their beliefs, focusing on social justice and compassion in daily life.
- The discussion on keeping God's commandments highlights the necessity of aligning our words with our actions in a meaningful manner.
- Assurance is provided through the understanding of Jesus as our advocate, shifting the focus from guilt to relationship and support.
- The episode challenges traditional views of spirituality by inviting individuals to engage in compassionate practices rather than punitive measures.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Living Love in Action a reflection on 1 John 2:1 6 on the daily Bible refresh hello my friend Dr. Brad Mellor here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible study guide, the ABC123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's Today's reading from First John 2:1:6 Reading from the Message I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin.
Speaker A:But if anyone does sin, we have a priest friend in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ, Righteous Jesus.
Speaker A:When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good.
Speaker A:Not only ours, but the whole world's the only way to know we're in Him.
Speaker A:Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way.
Speaker A:Keep his commandments Someone claims I know him well, but he doesn't keep his commandments.
Speaker A:He's obviously a liar.
Speaker A:His life doesn't match his words.
Speaker A:But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God.
Speaker A:God's mature love.
Speaker A:This is the only way to be sure we're in God.
Speaker A:Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived well, friends.
Speaker A:In this reflection we really explore what it means to truly know and live in God's presence.
Speaker A:Here's three points to pon Three points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first is the universal solution.
Speaker A:John speaks of Jesus solving, quote, the sin problem not just for believers, but for the whole world.
Speaker A:This radical inclusivity suggests that divine love and reconciliation extend far beyond religious boundaries.
Speaker A:It challenges us to reject exclusionary theology and embrace a more expansive understanding of God's healing presence in all creation.
Speaker A:A second point is about going beyond guilt and shame.
Speaker A:While John writes to guide us out of sin, he immediately provides assurance of our priest friend Jesus.
Speaker A:This shifts the focus from shame based religion to a relationship of loving and support.
Speaker A:When we stumble we have an advocate who stands with us, not against us.
Speaker A:This understanding invites us to move beyond punitive views of spirituality toward a more compassionate practice.
Speaker A:The third is about love and action.
Speaker A:The text challenges us to align our words with our actions.
Speaker A:In progressive Christianity, this means actively working for justice, inclusion and compassion.
Speaker A:Keeping God's commandments isn't about rigid rule following, but about embodying divine love in tangible ways, just as Jesus demonstrated through his radical welcome of the marginalized.
Speaker A:Let's talk about an action step for the day.
Speaker A:Choose a social issue that matters to you.
Speaker A:It might be climate, justice or racial equality, or dealing with folks who are poor or have economic disadvantages, or perhaps LGBTQ + rights, economic justice, etc.
Speaker A:So take a concrete action today that aligns with your beliefs, with your behavior.
Speaker A:And this might mean making a donation, or maybe reaching out, or writing to a senator or a legislator, or maybe having a difficult discussion with somebody we're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but I want you to know that we have a resource just for you.
Speaker A:It's going to help you with your at home Bible study practices.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:You can pick it up for free at our website, voiceofgod daily.com let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a loving presence and we thank you for accepting us exactly as we are while leaving us too much to leave us unchanged.
Speaker A:When we fall short, remind us of your endless grace when we're when our actions don't match our words.
Speaker A:Give us courage to realign with love.
Speaker A:Help us to move beyond mere belief to embody your compassion and all we do.
Speaker A:Guide us in living as Jesus lived, breaking down walls, lifting up the marginalized, and creating a beloved community.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend.
Speaker A:I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
