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.

Reading from the gospel of John 3:31 36 from the Message the one who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God.

The earth born is earth bound and speaks earth language.

The heaven born is in a league of its own.

He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven.

No one wants to deal with these facts, but anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this that God himself is the truth.

The one that God sent speaks God's words.

And don't think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces.

The Father loves the Son extravagantly.

He turned everything over to him so he could give it away.

A lavish distribution of gifts.

That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything.

Life complete and forever.

And that is why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life.

All he experiences of God is darkness.

And an angry darkness at that.

Well friends, that ends this reading and I'm just glad we get to spend a couple minutes together here.

Go a little deeper here on John 3:31 36 here John paints a picture of Jesus as the one who speaks about God's own heart.

Not rationing the Spirit in bits and pieces is what it says, but pouring out a lavish distribution of gifts.

So the invitation is to trust this way of abundant life.

Life that's complete, not cramped with fear.

Let's go a little deeper on some teaching points now.

Three points to ponder I like to call it.

The first one is the Spirit is not scarce, so we don't have to be either.

Don't think God rations out the Spirit.

That's a direct hit on a scarcity Reflex we often have.

A progressive reading here Resists gatekeeping the spirit by any means by gender, orientation, race, class, education or platform.

If God lavishes gifts, our job is to recognize and make room for them.

Women preaching and leading LGBTQ siblings Fully affirmed black and brown leaders.

Leaders of all colors centered lay people empowered.

Abundance looks like shared power, not hoarded control.

Another point to ponder is this faith examines and then trusts.

The text says anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake their life on this.

That's permission to think, to question, test and leads to love and justice.

Progressive faith welcomes science, therapy and lived experience as conversation partners with scripture.

Doubt isn't disloyal.

It's often how love grows teeth.

We trust Jesus not by shutting our eyes, but by opening them and following the evidence towards liberation and mercy.

A third point to ponder.

Gets in on everything means participation, not possession.

Let me read that again.

Open quote Gets in on everything.

Means participation, not possession.

Life complete and forever as what the scripture says isn't a private trophy, it's shared participation in God's generosity.

Right now we join a distribution network of our time, our money, our skills and our votes which become channels of the Spirit's abundance.

If religion leaves our neighbors hungry, excluded or unheard, we've missed the point of Jesus.

Trust looks like concrete solidarity that reduces suffering.

In our scripture Today we are talking about.

This situation here of.

Of shared life together.

So let's take a look at one unpractice that we can do an action step.

One thing we can do is unration generosity.

Pick one gift that has God has placed on you.

A gift of listening or cooking or advocacy, rides to appointments, tech help with somebody, spare room maybe that you can loan out for a while, a spare hour of your time and put it in circulation for someone who needs it.

Another thing that we can do is name one place you can share power.

Invite a new voice to lead past the mic, co sign a marginalized colleague's idea or support and affirming policy in your church or workplace.

We'll come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but I want you to know we have a resource for you called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.

We invite you to head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com that's where you can get it.

Let's pray.

Oh God of lavish spirit, thank you for not measuring your love with a teaspoon.

When we clutch and count.

Teach us to open our hands when we doubt.

Guide our questions towards courage and compassion.

Let your gifts flow through us of time, tenderness, truth and tangible help so fewer neighbors feel alone.

Bless caregivers and patients, the tired and the trying, the ones walking hospital hallways and the ones walking on a wooded trail.

Meet us in our families and meet us in the laughter of children and make our communities places where no one rations belonging and where your abundance becomes visible in justice and in joy.

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 Read 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.