Sacred surprises when Divine Love breaks through A Study of Luke 1:15 17 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello my friend Dr.

Brad Miller here with you.

For the Daily Bible Refresh, a daily reading of the New Testament, we take the Message version of the Revised Common Lectionary reading for this very day.

This is part of a three year cycle of readings.

We're in Year C and we make it both relatable by giving you some points to ponder and applicable by having some action steps to take.

We do all that in under 10 minutes or so and have a prayer to boot.

It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of our free resource, the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

Let's get into our reading for the day from Luke the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 15 through 17.

Reading from the Message A childless couple conceives during the rule of Herod, King of Judea.

There was a priest assigned service in the region of Abijah.

His name was was Zechariah.

His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron.

Her name was Elizabeth.

Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the Commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God.

But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive and now they were quite old.

It so happened that as Zechariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regimen, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense.

The congregation was gathered and praying outside the temple at the hour of the incense offering.

Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense.

Zechariah was paralyzed in fear, but the angel reassured him, don't fear, Zechariah.

Your prayer has been heard.

Elizabeth, your wife will bear a son by you.

You're to name him John, and you're going to leap like a gazelle for joy.

And not only you, but many will delight in his birth.

He'll achieve great stature with God.

He'll drink neither wine nor beer.

He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit.

From the moment he leaves his mother's womb.

He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God.

He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics.

He'll get the people ready for God.

Well, in today's reflection about this incredible passage of scripture.

We're talking about the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, a story that challenges our assumptions about age, possibility, and God's divine presence in unexpected places and ways.

Here are some points to ponder.

The first has to do about breaking social stigmas.

Elizabeth's childlessness would have carried significant social stigma in her time.

Yet the text describes both her and Zechariah as living honorably before God.

This challenges the common belief that infertility was some sort of a divine punishment.

This reminds us to question cultural assumptions that stigmatize any group, whether related to family structure, gender identity, or life circumstances.

Another point is about sacred disruption.

The angel appears in the midst of traditional religious ritual but brings a message that will ultimately challenge religious conventions.

John will grow up to be an outsider, drinking neither wine nor beer, living in the wilderness.

This reminds us that transformative change often comes from the margins, not the center of religious institutions.

One more point.

It's about intergenerational, Intergenerational healing The prophecy about John quote, softening the hearts of parents to children speaks to the importance of healing intergenerational trauma.

In our time of significant generational divide over issues like climate change, racial injustice, and LGBTQ rights, this message of bridging intergenerational gaps remains crucial.

Let's talk about an action step.

I invite you to identify a generational divide in your family and your community, your body of faith, perhaps around some social justice issue, environmental concerns, or inclusive theology.

Create space for genuine dialogue by organizing a meal or some other gathering where different generations can share their hopes and fears about the future.

Practice listening without judgment.

Seek to understand rather than to convince.

We'll come back with a closing prayer here in just a minute.

I always want you to know that we have a great resource for you.

If you'd like to have individual Bible studying on your own, that would be in coordination or compliment to what we get here.

The daily Bible refresh.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.

You can pick it up at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com it's free to you and it will help you with your personal Bible study.

Here's our closing prayer.

God of surprises, help us recognize your presence in unexpected places and people.

When we feel too old or too tired or too cynical for change.

Remind us about Elizabeth and Zachariah, their story, and give us courage to challenge stigmas that harm your beloved children.

Open our hearts to hear wisdom from unexpected sources, whether they be younger generations or those in society's margins, and help us to build bridges across the divides that separate parents from children, tradition from transformation, and fear from love.

Amen.

Well, my good friends, my good friend, it's always so great to be with you for the Daily Bible Refresh.

We're here with you every day.

We usually drop these episodes before 6:00am Eastern Time.

Love for you to join me, and to join me also in my mission to get the audible word of God into into two millionaires, a million people by 2028.

You can help me by subscribing to this podcast and also inviting someone else to join and subscribe as well.

You do that, you will be blessed.

Till next time, my good friend.

This is Dr.

Brad Miller reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.

Sam.