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 the gospel of John 1:1 13 from the Message the life light the Word was first the Word present to God God present to the Word.

The Word was God in readiness for

God from day one.

Everything was created through Him.

Nothing, not one thing came into being without him.

What came into existence was life and the life was light to live by.

The life light blazed out of the darkness.

The darkness couldn't put it out.

There once was a man, his name

John, sent by God to point out the way to the life light.

He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in.

John was not himself the light.

He was here to show the way to the light.

The life light was the real thing.

Every person entering life he brings into light.

He was in the world.

The world was there through him and yet the world didn't even notice.

He came to his own people, but they didn't want him.

But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do whatever he said he made to be their true selves, their child of God selves.

Those are the God begotten.

Not blood begotten, not flesh begotten, not sex begotten.

What an incredible passage of scripture.

It's actually one of my favorites about the life light being the real thing.

So let's get into some points to ponder about this.

The Life Light names us beyond labels.

John says Jesus makes us their true selves, not their child of God selves.

Very interesting turn of a phrase not defined by bloodlines, flesh or sex.

A progressive reading hears radical inclusion identity rooted in grace, not gatekeeping.

Your worth isn't measured by pedigree, performance or conformity.

It's received when the world doesn't notice you or misnames you.

The life light still sees you, claims you, and calls you into its truest self.

This resonates in my own family story.

Long marriage, great kids, grandchildren, and laughter and storytelling are all part of our life together.

And love lets people be themselves, not replicas of someone else's expectations.

Another point light doesn't deny darkness.

It refuses to be extinguished.

It says here the darkness couldn't put it out.

A progressive reading of this doesn't pretend suffering isn't real.

It insists that hope is more stubborn.

In my weekly podcast for folks impacted by cancer, we hold both pain and humor together.

A light doesn't erase chemo side effects or scan anxiety.

It shows a path through them, often with small graces.

Maybe it's a casserole from a neighbor, or the kind word from a nurse, or a shared laugh that breaks the heaviness of the minute.

Sometimes I think about going on hikes with my wife, which we do quite often, and how if we're in an area where there is a canopy of trees, sometimes a shaft of sunlight will go through the trees, through the leaves and onto the trail after a stretch of shadow.

That's just such a cool moment.

And when we see these things, it enlightens us.

The light lights up the darkness.

All right, so that's what I'm watching.

My favorite teams, Colts, Pacers, IU Fever.

Sometimes they got bad, you know, a bad game or bad quarter and some it looks dark, it looks bleak.

And sometimes they come back several.

Happens several times to Pacers this year where they came back in the last minute and won the game.

And light is there.

It's just a cool moment.

Light is faithfully showing up.

Everybody.

The good understand, the good persists and the truth that studies the love that carries.

Here's an action step.

Make a light list today.

Write three names of people who might in your life who might be a bit unseen.

Someone in treatment, a caregiver, a colleague, a neighbor.

And for them do one small act that helps them feel their true child of God's self.

It may be a bookmark, it might be a text just encouraging them.

Or might be a practical thing.

You know, buy somebody a cup of coffee, take them for a meal or maybe a five minute phone call just to say I was thinking about you.

Let it be simple.

No fanfare.

The life light often moves in quiet, steady ways.

Well, we'll come back and have a prayer here in just a minute.

But I did want you to know that we have a illuminating gift for you.

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Let's pray.

Life Light of God thank you that the darkness can't put you out.

When labels and expectations tug at us, you name us again as your children, our true selves.

Be near those who are having anxiety, cancer, some other adversity in life and give them comfort and a smile where possible.

Bless our families, spouses, kids, grandchildren, friends, co workers.

Thank you for moments when we can laugh and teach us to notice light on the ordinary days and even the ordinary trails of a kind word.

A decent pass, a friend who sits with us when times are tough.

Help us carry that light to someone else today.

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.