Hello, my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.

This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.

In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.

The reading is understandable.

I use the message version relatable.

Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.

We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.

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Here's today's reading.

We're reading from Matthew 3, 13:17 from the Message Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan river from Galilee.

He wanted John to baptize him and John objected.

I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you.

But Jesus insisted, do it.

God's work putting things right.

All these centuries coming together right now in this baptism.

So John did it.

The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit and looked like a dove descending and landing on him along with the Spirit of voice.

This is my son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.

What an incredible scripture.

That ends the reading.

And we're going to talk today about this incredible passage of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.

And John objects, as you heard there, he says, I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you.

But Jesus is insistent, saying, do it.

It's God's work putting things right.

And then it talks about the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and the voice coming, this is my son, the delight of my life.

Wow, what power.

Let's get into some points to ponder.

The first one is that Jesus chooses solidarity over superiority.

He doesn't stand apart, he stands in the water with us.

Progressive faith hears Jesus say, put things right through embodied allyship, showing up with those on the margins and inside systems that need repair.

In my weekly podcast for folks impacted by cancer, this looks like being very practical.

Meals, rides, humor to help carry the day.

Solidarity isn't a slogan.

It's the water we wade through together.

Another point to ponder is belovedness comes before performance.

Says here the voice, the voice of love arrives before any miracles or sermons, says marked by my love, the delight of my life.

Wow.

Progressive faith resists shame based religion and expands belonging to everybody.

Every story, every identity is held in divine delight.

I'm a grandfather of two really giggling wonderful granddaughters who still laugh at my jokes and like to pull on my beard and and I want them and every I want them to know and everybody know, every neighbor to know that they're beloved without earning it.

One more point to ponder.

Baptism is public embodied justice work powered by a gentle spirit.

Jesus says this moment is about putting things right.

So baptism isn't escapist spirituality.

It's a community ritual that launches repair, health care, access, creation care, fair housing, safer streets, spirit shaped public good and teamwork together thriving.

In other words, it's all called together.

Here in this baptism narrative, let's talk about an action step.

Belovedness to solidarity, be to be, we might call it.

In the morning, speak one sentence to yourself before I do anything.

Today I am beloved.

Breathe it in.

Know that you are loved.

And then later in the day, in the afternoon or evening, do some concrete act of solidarity for somebody else.

Text somebody else.

Ask somebody how you can be helpful to them.

Bring a meal to somebody.

Be a caregiver to somebody.

Help clean up a park.

Email your representatives about some injustice.

Keep it small, specific and kind.

We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a moment, but before we do, I want to let you know we do have a resource for you.

It's called the ABC123 Bible Study Method.

Head over to our website voiceofgodddaily.com it's free to you there.

Let's pray.

God of open skies and river waters, remind us that we are beloved before we perform, produce or prove.

Teach us Jesus ways of solidarity, standing with our neighbors, protecting the vulnerable adjoining your work of putting things right in our city.

Let the Spirit land gently on our everyday lives in hospital rooms and living rooms, in sidewalks and trails, at courtsides and kitchen tables.

Be close to those who are navigating illness and treatments on those long dark nights.

And let hope arrive in practical matters, in meals or rides or messages or humor.

And when laughter comes, let us delight in it just like you delight in us.

Let it be a signal that your delight is near.

Amen.

My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.

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Thanks much.

My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your daily Bible refresh.

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

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