Episode 1129
How Does Faith Make Love Light, Not Heavy?
The central theme of today's podcast revolves around the profound connection between love for God and love for one’s neighbors, as articulated in the epistle of First John. I will elucidate the notion that genuine faith manifests not merely as an abstract belief, but as active trust, characterized by tangible acts of compassion and service. Throughout our discourse, we shall explore three pivotal points that underscore the significance of love as a command, emphasizing that it is inherently communal and not burdensome. Furthermore, I will elucidate how our adherence to divine commandments aligns with joy and liberation, fostering a spirit of inclusion and mercy within our communities. We invite you to engage with these reflections as we seek to embody the principles of love and service in our daily lives.
Takeaways:
- The Daily Bible Refresh presents daily readings from a progressive perspective, enriching spiritual engagement.
- I encourage listeners to participate in my mission of sharing God's word with a million people by 2028.
- The essence of love in faith is emphasized, connecting love of God with love for others.
- Commands from God should not be perceived as burdensome, but as pathways to joy and liberation in our lives.
- Our faith, characterized by trust in action, serves as a powerful force against the world's negativity.
- I propose actionable steps to express love and support for others in practical and tangible ways.
Links referenced in this episode:
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.
You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".
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)
Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller 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 ABC1, 23 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 B:Here's today's reading and we're reading today from First John 5:1:5.
Speaker B:This is the epistle or the letter of First John as a differentiated from the Gospel of John.
Speaker B:We're reading from the message.
Speaker B:Every person who believes that Jesus is in fact the Messiah is God born.
Speaker B:If we love the one who conceives the child will surely love the child who who was conceived.
Speaker B:The reality test on whether or not we love God's children is this do we love God?
Speaker B:Do we keep his commands?
Speaker B:The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.
Speaker B:The Power that Brings the World to its knees Every God born person conquers the world, the world's ways.
Speaker B:The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith.
Speaker B:The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.
Speaker B:Then is the reading and welcome good people to our conversation here today.
Speaker B:I just want to thank you for making some space for Bible study in your life.
Speaker B:Our reading is from First John 5:1:5 in the message, the epistle, First John or the letter and John's Pulling together Pulling together a simple thread here.
Speaker B:If we love God, we'll love God's kids.
Speaker B:Keeping God's commands isn't burdensome and faith in Jesus helps us resist the world's ways.
Speaker B:So talking about this, let's look at three points to ponder through a progressive lens.
Speaker B:Love is the command and it's communal.
Speaker B:John ties love of God to love of God's children.
Speaker B:In plain terms, if we claim to love God, we practice care for people, especially those sidelined by the world's ways.
Speaker B:Commands aren't a checklist They're a way of life that centers mercy, justice and dignity.
Speaker B:And progressive faith sees the commands through Jesus.
Speaker B:Summary Love God, Love neighbor.
Speaker B:If the outcome of our obedience isolates our harms, we miss the point.
Speaker B:Love bends us towards inclusion.
Speaker B:Welcoming our neighbors.
Speaker B:Be the immigrants.
Speaker B:Be the LBGTQ folks.
Speaker B:Advocating for equitable health care.
Speaker B:Honoring all of our neighbors whatever their background or language or heritage or racial makeup.
Speaker B:It is all about honoring the image of God in every person.
Speaker B:Second point to ponder Faith isn't a vibe, it's trust in action.
Speaker B:It says here, quote the conquering power is our faith, not conquest, not domination.
Speaker B:Faith subverts the world's ways of trusting by trusting Jesus's path of self giving love.
Speaker B:That looks like choosing truth over spin, presence over performance, service over status.
Speaker B:I do work with cancer impacted people in my other podcast, Cancer and Comedy and they're the really brave folks, I tell you that.
Speaker B:And the bravest faith that I see isn't loud, isn't boisterous.
Speaker B:It's steady.
Speaker B:It's giving rides to appointments.
Speaker B:It's being present.
Speaker B:It's meals on hard days.
Speaker B:It's laughter in waiting rooms and hospital rooms.
Speaker B:Faith wins over the world's ways when we resist cynicism and show up.
Speaker B:Third point to ponder God's commands aren't burdensome because they align with joy when love is the command.
Speaker B:Obedience isn't drudgery, it's liberation.
Speaker B:We're freer when we stop living for approval and start living from belovedness.
Speaker B:If you ever watched a great basketball or football team play like Indian University this year in football, man, you've seen teamwork that is unselfish.
Speaker B:Or maybe you've hiked a trail with a partner and you just breathe easier.
Speaker B:When you're doing it together, you feel alignment.
Speaker B:You feel the synergy of the act creates joy.
Speaker B:Loving God and neighbor puts us in rhythm with the way we are made to be spiritual beings and relational beings.
Speaker B:It's less grind, more grace.
Speaker B:Let's talk about an action step for this week, a Love as Logistics challenge.
Speaker B:Pick one concrete, non heroic act that relieves someone else's burden.
Speaker B:Take somebody a meal.
Speaker B:Offer a ride to somebody who needs a ride to a medical appointment.
Speaker B:Babysit for somebody for an hour or two.
Speaker B:Maybe pay for somebody's groceries.
Speaker B:Or maybe pay for somebody's coffee when you're in line at Starbucks.
Speaker B:Send a handwritten note or a small gift or card to someone that you just want to encourage for no particular reason.
Speaker B:Or maybe volunteer at your local food pantry or shelter.
Speaker B:Add a Justice thread.
Speaker B:If your ACT touches health care, for instance, or food or housing, send a respectful email to any leaders or people who have been supporting policies to encourage them, particularly if they are doing things to help protect the vulnerable.
Speaker B:Likewise, if someone is doing things to harm the vulnerable, let them know that too.
Speaker B:Keep it simple.
Speaker B:Love is the command.
Speaker B:Logistics are the expression we're going to come back and have a prayer here.
Speaker A:In just a minute.
Speaker B:In the meantime, I really would like for you to go over to our website, Voice of God Daily and pick up our free Bible Study Guide.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:O God of unburdensome Love, Love, thank you for making your commands feel like oxygen, not weight.
Speaker B:Teach us to trust Jesus in small, repeatable ways.
Speaker B:In the carpool, in the waiting room, the checkout line.
Speaker B:When the world's ways shout for power, anchor us in service, mercy and truth.
Speaker B:Bless our families, our teams, and our trails.
Speaker B:Fill our homes with laughter and let that joy spill into someone else's day.
Speaker B:Help Help us.
Speaker B:Love your children like they're ours.
Speaker B:Because they are.
Speaker B: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: ionaires, 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.
