Radical Kindness a reading from 1st Peter 3.

8:12 on the daily Bible refresh 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.

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Here's Today's reading from 1st Peter 3.

8:12 Reading from the message Suffering for doing good Summing up Be agreeable.

Be sympathetic.

Be loving.

Be compassionate.

Be humble.

That goes for all of you.

No exceptions.

No retaliation.

No sharp tongue sarcasm.

Instead, bless.

That's your job to bless.

You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life and see.

The day fill up with good, here's what you do.

Say nothing evil or hurtful.

Snub evil and cultivate good.

Run after peace for all your worth.

God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked.

But he turns his back on those who do evil things well.

My friend, welcome to today's reflection on this passage.

This passage from First Peter really challenges us to practice revolutionary kindness, even in a world that often rewards hostility.

Let's get into some points to ponder.

The first is about collective responsibility.

The text begins with that goes for all of you.

No exceptions.

In an age of individualism and privilege, this universal call to compassion and humility is radical.

It reminds us that building beloved community requires everyone's participation, regardless of social status or position.

Second point is about Nonviolence is power.

No, retaliation isn't about passivity.

It's about breaking cycles of violence.

This connects to movements like Black Lives Matter, environmental justice and peace activism, where non violent resistance challenges systematic systemic oppression.

Blessing those who oppose us is a form of spiritual resistance.

The third area is about active peacemaking.

Run after peace for all your worth, the scripture says, suggests peace isn't passive but requires vigorous pursuit.

This challenges both personal and systematic violence, calling us to be active participants in conflict transformation and justice seeking, not just conflict avoidance.

Here's your action step.

Choose one conflict in your life or community where you've been tempted towards some act of retaliation or maybe just being sharp tongued and practice quote blessing instead, not by ignoring injustice, but by responding in ways that break cycles of harm.

This might mean having a difficult conversation, being an advocate for change, or finding some creative way to transform conflict into an opportunity for growth.

We'll have our closing prayer here in just a moment.

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At our website voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.

Oh God, you are the source of all peace and we live in a world that often mistakes kindness for weakness and revenge for strength.

Help us remember that true power lies in compassion, not control.

When we're tempted to respond with sarcasm or spite, guide us towards words and actions that heal rather than harm.

Give us courage to pursue peace even when it costs us something.

Remind us that in blessing others, even those we struggle to love, we participate in your work of transformation.

Grant us wisdom to know how to be both kind and just, gentle and strong.

Amen.

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

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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.