Radical Belonging and Protection A Study of the Gospel of John 10:22:30 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people.

Thank you for joining me here on Daily Bible Refresh.

This is where we bring the reading of the Bible, the New Testament to you every single day.

It's brought to you by we breathe from the Revised Common Lectionary.

That's a three year cycle of the selected verses for this very day.

We're in Year C, the Eastertide season.

We make the reading of the Bible understandable.

We use the message version relatable.

We give you some points to ponder applicable we have an action step.

We pray and we do all that in under 10 minutes or so.

All brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's our website, the home of the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

Let's get into our reading for the day from the Gospel of John 10:22 30 Reading from the Message they were celebrating Hanukkah just then in Jerusalem.

It was winter.

Jesus was strolling in the temple across Solomon's porch.

The Jews circling him said, how long are you going to keep us guessing?

If you're the Messiah, tell us straight out.

Jesus answered, I told you, but you don't believe.

Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father.

Actions that speak louder than words.

You don't believe because you're not my sheep.

My sheep recognize my voice.

I know them and they follow me.

I give them real and eternal life.

They are protected from the destroyer for good.

No one can steal them from out of my hand.

The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the destroyer and thief.

No one could ever get them away from Him.

I and the Father are of one heart and mind.

Well my friends, today this is a powerful message about belonging, protection and collective care.

So let's get into some points to ponder here today.

This text specifically mentions Hanukkah reminded us that Jesus ministry was deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and resistance.

This challenges Christian antisemitism, calling us to respect and learn from Jewish wisdom rather than appropriate or dismiss it.

Jesus answer about being of one heart and one mind with the Father emerges from a Jewish understanding of divine unity.

Another point to ponder is about the liberation from destroyers is what the Bible says this protection from the destroyers isn't about individual salvation, but about collective liberation from systems that destroy communities, whether through economic exploitation, environmental destruction or social oppression.

The destroyer and thief might today represent corporate greed, white supremacy or other systematic forces that steal life from communities.

One more point is about radical belonging.

The shepherd imagery here isn't about blind following, but about mutual recognition and belonging.

It says, my sheep recognize my voice.

That suggests discernment rather than passive acceptance.

This challenges both authoritarian religious leadership and individualistic spirituality, pointing towards communities of mutual care and shared wisdom.

Let's talk about an action step this week.

Examine how your community provides protection and belonging for vulnerable people.

Choose a concrete way to strengthen collective care.

That might mean creating some mutual aid network to support people to provide for community needs or organize protection for some people, marginalized people in many cases who are targeted with violence or supporting indigenous land protection efforts or building an interface solidarity against oppression.

Remember, we are called to protect each other from systematic destroyers.

We're going to pray here in just a moment.

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

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.

You can pick it up at voiceofgoddaily.com let's have our closing prayer.

Divine Protector.

We live amid systems that destroy and thieves that steal.

Community life.

Help us recognize your voice and calls for justice and liberation when a destroyer threatens our communities.

Remind us of your protecting presence.

Guide us in building networks of mutual care and collective resistance.

Show us how to create genuine belonging that transcends religious boundaries.

Give us courage to stand against forces that diminish life.

In hope and determination we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

It's always great to be with you here at Daily Bible Refresh.

I look forward to it and hope that you do too.

I have a mission that put the audible word of God into 2 million ears.

That's a million people by 2020 28.

You're a part of this process.

Please help me by being with me again tomorrow.

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Until next time, friends.

My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new.

Every.