Episode 864
Jesus's Radical Instruction: Love One Another
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.
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The discussion centers around the profound implications of John 13:31-35, where Jesus articulates a new commandment that emphasizes love as the defining characteristic of His disciples. This segment delves into the radical nature of this command, which transcends mere doctrinal beliefs and ritualistic practices. Instead, it posits that the essence of Christian identity lies in the revolutionary love that followers exhibit towards one another. By exploring the transformative power of love, we reflect on what it means to forge authentic community and to embody the principles of justice and dignity. The episode encourages listeners to ponder how their identities can be reshaped by the call to love, challenging the prevailing narratives that often define faith through cultural or political lenses. Through thoughtful reflection, the conversation invites us to consider the concrete actions that can manifest this love in a world that frequently prioritizes division over unity.
Takeaways:
- In the context of John 13:31-35, Jesus emphasizes the paramount importance of love among his followers.
- The radical command to love one another serves as the definitive identifier of discipleship.
- True glory, as articulated by Jesus, is intrinsically linked to acts of love and service.
- Community is depicted as a sacred space where divine presence is experienced through mutual love.
- To manifest love in tangible ways within our communities is of utmost significance and urgency.
- The podcast encourages personal engagement with scripture through daily study and reflection on its teachings.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
A new command.
Speaker A: A deep dive into John: Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:This is where we offer to you a daily reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We bring it to you by the selected reading from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:This is a three year cycle of reading through the whole Bible.
Speaker A:We're in year C.
Speaker A:We're on Holy Week just before Easter right now.
Speaker A:We bring you the Word of God every day in a way that is understandable.
Speaker A:We use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you some points to ponder applicable.
Speaker A:We give you an action step to take.
Speaker A:We have a prayer and we do all of that in under 10 minutes or so.
Speaker A:And it's all brought to you by voiceofgoddd daily.
Speaker A:That is our website where you find a resource which is the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A:Let's get into our reading for today.
Speaker A: John: Speaker A:God seen for who he is in him.
Speaker A:The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display in glorifying him.
Speaker A:He Himself is glorified glory all around.
Speaker A:Children, I am with you for only a short time.
Speaker A:You are going to look high and low for me.
Speaker A:But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you, where I go, you will not be able to come.
Speaker A:Let me give you a new command.
Speaker A:Love one another in the same way I loved you, you love one another.
Speaker A:This is how everyone will recognize you that you are are my disciples when they see the love that you have for each other.
Speaker A:One of the more powerful readings of the Scriptures from my estimation, it's about really developing a loving, beloved community.
Speaker A:And this is Jesus's radical command.
Speaker A:Radical to love.
Speaker A:It's a deceptively simple instruction that has the power to transform your life, my life, and indeed the world.
Speaker A:Let's get into some of the points to ponder for today.
Speaker A:First one is about revolutionary love as our identity.
Speaker A:Jesus states that love will be the identifying marker of his followers.
Speaker A:Not correct beliefs, not ritual practices, not political affiliations.
Speaker A:This challenges our contemporary Christian landscape where faith is often defined by doctrine or culture wars.
Speaker A:What would our communities look like if mutual love was truly our primary identifier?
Speaker A:This love isn't about just gushy warm feelings.
Speaker A:It's about concrete actions that promote justice and dignity for all.
Speaker A:Another point is glory redefined this passage here talks it clearly begins to talk about glory.
Speaker A:Jesus immediately connects this glory to love and service.
Speaker A:This radically redefines glory from something about power and triumph to something about relationships and love.
Speaker A:It is about care in our achievement oriented society.
Speaker A:This suggests that true glory isn't found in success or influence, but in our capacity to love courageously and practically.
Speaker A:One more point to ponder is community as a sacred space.
Speaker A:When Jesus says I am with you only for a short time, he's not abandoning his followers, but transforming how they'll experience his presence through love for one another.
Speaker A:This suggests that divine presence is found primarily in human relationships and in community.
Speaker A:Sacred space isn't limited to churches or some private prayer group, but exists wherever people love each other across the boundaries and barriers let's talk about an action step for today.
Speaker A:Choose a concrete way to make love visible in your life and in your community.
Speaker A:This isn't about feeling loving, but about loving action.
Speaker A:Consider what marginalized group needs active loving, tangible support, what justice issue requires your involved engagement, what relationships need to be personally required, repaired and take a specific step.
Speaker A:Perhaps it's organizing some community group that crosses social or racial or socioeconomic boundaries, or joining some moving about fair movement about such things as fair housing, or initiating some difficult, unnecessary, necessary conversation about someone who you have harmed or has harmed you and to begin the process of healing based on love.
Speaker A:Remember, love without action is simply sappy sentiment.
Speaker A:We're going to have a closing prayer here in just a minute, but let's talk about having a action step that you can take, which is getting into the Bible of your own accord.
Speaker A:What I mean by that is we have our daily Bible refresh where you're listening to the Word.
Speaker A:That's a good thing.
Speaker A:Join me every day for that, but you need to read it and study it yourself.
Speaker A:So we have a resource for you.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:You can pick it up at our website voiceofgoddaily.com it's free for you to engage in your own at home Bible study.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:God, you are the source of love and who shows us that glory is found in relationships rather than power.
Speaker A:Help us make your love visible in our world.
Speaker A:When we're tempted to make our faith complicated, remind us of your simple command to love one another.
Speaker A:We want to retreat into comfortable circles.
Speaker A:Give us courage to love across boundaries.
Speaker A:When we're tired of loving in a world that seems bent on hatred.
Speaker A:Renew our strength and hope.
Speaker A:Thank you for showing us that you are found not in abstract ideas, but in concrete acts of love and justice.
Speaker A:Help us be people who are known by our love, not just in a word, but in action.
Speaker A:In the spirit of Jesus who loved all the ways to all on the margins, we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:I pray for you every day.
Speaker A:I hope that you pray for me as I look to bring the audible word of God into two millionaires.
Speaker A: A million people by: Speaker A:So let's be in this together.
Speaker A:Let's share love one another and let's share love by you personally.
Speaker A:Inviting someone to join you on the daily Bible refresh you just point them to voiceofgodddaily.com our website and we can get you connected there.
Speaker A:Until tomorrow, friends, my name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Just a reminder that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
