Advent Reflections: Divine Love and Speaking Against Oppression | S3. Ep.22

Welcome to "Daily Bible Refresh," hosted by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller. Each day, Dr. Miller delves into the daily readings from the Common Lectionary, bringing us meaningful reflections that are both relatable and profound. Today, he kicks off with a passage from Luke 13:31-35, read from the Message version of the Bible.

In this episode, Dr. Miller paints a vivid picture of Jesus confronting the political powers of His day, encapsulated in His interaction with Herod. He illustrates how Jesus was warned about Herod's intentions to kill Him, yet responded with conviction and a prophetic declaration. This important biblical account provides a springboard for considering our own interactions with power and vulnerability.

Key Takeaways:

1. Speaking Truth to Power: Jesus’ bold response to Herod, referring to him as "that fox," represents a powerful act of speaking truth to power. Dr. Miller emphasizes that unjust systems and authorities should be challenged. This call to discipleship invites listeners to think critically about injustice in their own contexts and to take steps, however small, to confront it.
2. Redefining Power through Vulnerability: Dr. Miller discusses the metaphor of the hen gathering her chicks—a striking contrast to the militaristic power often associated with political entities. This imagery lends itself to a broader discussion on how true strength can manifest through acts of love and care, rather than through domination or force. This view challenges the "might makes right" mentality and invites listeners to consider a more compassionate approach to leadership and influence.
3. Compassionate Resistance: While advocating for justice, Dr. Miller underscores the importance of maintaining a compassionate heart. He encourages the audience to balance their acts of resistance with a Christ-like love. The difficult, yet rewarding task is to express opposition to harmful systems while still harboring love in our hearts.

Action Step: Dr. Miller encourages you to identify a "fox-like" system of power in your community—be it political, economic, or social—that causes harm, and take a definitive action against it. This could involve writing letters, joining advocacy groups, or supporting those who lead such efforts. Importantly, engage in this resistance with compassionate love, akin to the protective care Jesus exemplified.

To further enrich your Advent season, Dr. Miller recommends "Prepare the Way for the Lord" by best-selling author Adam Hamilton. This resource focuses on preparing to receive Christ during Advent, inspired by the teachings of John the Baptist.

Closing the episode with a prayer, Dr. Miller seeks courage, wisdom, and compassion for his listeners as they navigate their daily lives, continuously inspired by Jesus' teachings.

Join us again tomorrow for more daily reflections that aim to foster personal growth and spiritual enrichment. Until then, remember, God’s loyal love is ever-present, renewed each morning.

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 Voice of God Daily 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.

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