Episode 1137
What Does Costly Faith Choose? Living Hebrews 11:23–28 Today
The salient focus of today's discourse centers on the profound interplay between faith and social justice, as exemplified through the narrative of Moses. We explore how the courageous actions of Moses' parents, who defied oppressive decrees to safeguard their child, illustrate the imperative of civil disobedience in the face of unjust laws. Furthermore, we delve into the notion that true faith compels individuals to prioritize solidarity with the marginalized over personal comfort, as evidenced by Moses' rejection of the privileges afforded by his royal status. This episode encourages listeners to engage in practical actions that advocate for the vulnerable and to utilize their resources in the service of justice. Ultimately, we are reminded that faith is not merely an individualistic endeavor but a communal responsibility that seeks to transform society towards liberation and hope.
Takeaways:
- The Daily Bible Refresh podcast presents a progressive interpretation of scripture, fostering thoughtful engagement with the text.
- Moses' parents exemplified civil disobedience, prioritizing the protection of vulnerable lives over adherence to unjust laws.
- Faith is portrayed as a powerful force that compels individuals to choose solidarity with the marginalized over personal comfort.
- The significance of rituals, such as the Passover, lies in their capacity to cultivate a collective memory of liberation and resistance against oppression.
- Listeners are encouraged to take action by advocating for social justice and leveraging their privileges to aid those in need.
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of community support and shared experiences in nurturing hope and resilience amidst adversity.
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.
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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 lesson 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: nd we're reading from Hebrews: Speaker B:They saw the child's beauty and they braved the king's decree by faith.
Speaker B:Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house.
Speaker B:He chose a hard life which with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors.
Speaker B:He valued suffering in the Messiah's camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead.
Speaker B:Anticipating the payoff by an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt.
Speaker B:Indifferent to the king's blind rage, he had his eye on the one no eye can see and kept right on going.
Speaker B:By an act of faith, he kept the Passover feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn't touch them.
Speaker B:Well, my friend, thanks for making a little space in your life for you and I to have a conversation about this scripture today.
Speaker B:And just glad that you're here about the story about Moses and faith.
Speaker B:It says that Moses parents braved the king's decree and Moses then grew up and refused the perks of the empire because he chose solidarity with the oppressed.
Speaker B:He lived for a future that others could not see and he kept a ritual Passover, which is important, that trained the community to remember liberation as a story they belonged to, not just something that they heard.
Speaker B:So let's take this passage and let's get into some teaching points.
Speaker B:I like to call them points to ponder from a progressive point of view.
Speaker B:The first point to ponder is that faith protects life, especially when the laws don't let me Go a little further.
Speaker B:Moses parents practice civil disobedience to save a child targeted by policy.
Speaker B:That's not private piety now.
Speaker B:It's public courage.
Speaker B:Progressive faith says God's yes is for the vulnerable, even when the paperwork says otherwise.
Speaker B:Today, that can look like advocating for safety and dignity for migrants.
Speaker B:For people who are immigrants, it can mean advocating for black and brown neighbors facing over policing or persecution by ice.
Speaker B:It could mean LGBTQ youth under hostile policies or patients navigating insurance labyrinths while in treatment.
Speaker B:In my weekly podcast for people impacted by cancer, I hear it all the time.
Speaker B:Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is help someone bend an inhumane system toward mercy.
Speaker B:The second point to ponder.
Speaker B:Faith chooses solidarity over comfort and uses privileges and uses privilege for liberation.
Speaker B:It says, quote, he refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house.
Speaker B:Close quote.
Speaker B:About Moses.
Speaker B:So Moses defects from the empire not because suffering is inherently holy, but because justice matters more than comfort.
Speaker B:For many of us, privilege shows up as time or money or access or a voice in rooms that decide outcomes.
Speaker B:And faith doesn't pretend we don't have it.
Speaker B:Faith leverages it, funneling resources, attention and protection toward those who've been denied those things.
Speaker B:It's the difference between cheering from the stands and getting on the court or getting on the field.
Speaker B:You know, I'm a fan of the Colts and Pacers and the Fever and Indiana University football and and I love it.
Speaker B:I liked but there's something watching that there.
Speaker B:But the engagement of people in the field makes all the difference.
Speaker B:See, the Christian life sometimes has less tickets and more full court press.
Speaker B:Third thing, faith keeps living towards the unseen and trains our imagination with liberation with liberating rituals.
Speaker B:It says here he had his eye on the wand.
Speaker B:No eye can see.
Speaker B:Hope isn't fantasy.
Speaker B:It's moral imagination that keeps us moving.
Speaker B:When results lag, pass will reform.
Speaker B:To people who remembered we were enslaved.
Speaker B:God brought us out.
Speaker B:No one gets left behind.
Speaker B:Our rituals, weekly worship, shared meals, quiet prayers, even silly family rituals and laughter all matter.
Speaker B:They are a different story than the one that the regime or the empire tells.
Speaker B:So when my granddaughters have a giggle fit, it's a little Passover time in and of itself.
Speaker B:A practice of joy that says grief and problems can be coped with and headlines and politics don't get the last word.
Speaker B:Let's talk about an action step.
Speaker B:Choose one concrete way to leverage your comfort or access for someone in the margins.
Speaker B:For us as be an advocate, call or email with some local official, your congressperson, or someone about a justice issue.
Speaker B:It may be immigration or patient protection or tenant rights, housing issues, inclusive or exclusive school policies.
Speaker B:A number of things that you can do Another thing another a thing you could do is to accompany be with someone who's going through a crisis.
Speaker B:It might mean a ride or a meal, a cup of coffee or child care or being with someone who's navigating treatment, some sort of a crisis.
Speaker B:Be present Another a thing to do is allocate give to a fund your time, energy, service your money for mutual aid or some clinic serving the uninsured.
Speaker B:Another a thing is amplify Use your platform, whatever it is, in your household, your church, your business, however small, to tell a liberation story that needs to be heard.
Speaker B:Be specific about it and make it known.
Speaker B:Think faith become visible in calendars and budgets.
Speaker B:All right, we're gonna have we're gonna close with a prayer in just a moment.
Speaker B:But I did want you to know that we have a have a resource for you to help you with your own home prayer life.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:And just please head over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com it's free to you there.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:God of the unseen and the everyday, give us the courage of Moses parents when policies harm the vulnerable.
Speaker B:Give us Moses backbone to choose people over perks.
Speaker B:Train our imagination with joy and justice until hope feels like muscle memory for friends who are facing adversity like cancer.
Speaker B:Give strength for treatment and rest for the caregivers and a laugh that sneaks in when no one expects it.
Speaker B:For our city and for the people we care about.
Speaker B:Teach us to love what you love and to move our feet toward liberation.
Speaker B:Keep our eyes on the one no I could see on our hands busy with the work your love requires.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: lionaires 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.
Speaker A:It's created new every morning.
