A new command, A deep dive into the Gospel of John 13:31 35 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

Hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

So glad that you joined me in my mission to get the audible word of God into 2 million years.

That's a million people by 2028.

We do that by a daily reading from the New Testament.

We use the Revised Common Lectionary.

That's a three year cycle of reading through the entire Bible.

We're in year C, Eastertide season.

We make the reading of the Bible understandable, relatable and applicable.

We have a prayer to boot.

It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that is our website where you can find our free Bible study guide, the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.

Let's get into our reading for the day from the Gospel of John 13:31 35.

Reading from the message A new command when he had left, Jesus said, now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him.

The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display in glorifying him.

He He Himself is glorified glory all around.

Children, I am with you only for a short time longer you are going to look high and low for me.

But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you, where I go, you are not able to come.

Let me give you a new command.

Love one another in the same way I loved you, you love one another.

This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples when you see or when they see the love that you have for each other.

We have a story here about revolutionary love.

That's what this passage is really about, and a radical heart of faith.

And this reflection, we're going to explore these powerful words of Jesus about love as the defining characteristic of discipleship.

So here's three points to ponder.

1.

Love is revolutionary practice.

Jesus presents love not as a mere feeling or oogly googly thing in the gut or pure sentimental value, but as a command, a revolutionary practice that defines the movement of following Jesus in a world of empire, violence and hierarchy.

Choosing love as a central identifier was radically, radically countercultural.

And today we are similarly challenged to make our love our primary political and social strategy, even when fear and hatred and anger seem to be more expedient.

Second point to ponder communal identity.

The emphasis on loving one another suggests that authentic spirituality is inherently communal.

This challenges both individualistic consumer Christianity and private personal spirituality.

True faith is expressed through our relationships and mutual care, particularly for those most marginalized in our communities.

A third point is about visible witness.

Jesus says people will recognize his disciples by their love, not by doctrines, not by worship style, not by political affiliations, but by their love.

This raises challenging questions about how contemporary Christianity is recognized in our society and what it means to be visibly faithful in Jesus's way of love.

So here's your action step for the day.

Choose a group of people in your community or some people you have some understanding of who tend to be marginalized or excluded.

And research organizations that are led by the members of that community, that lead members of that community, not just those serving them.

And find one concrete way to show up in love, whether through financial support, amplifying their voices, prayer, or even joining their efforts.

We're going to come back with a closing prayer here in just a moment, but I do want you to know before we leave you that we have a great gift for you today.

It's a free gift.

You can find it voiceofgod daily.com it is called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Guide.

You pick it up and we'll make Bible study in your life.

That issue that you know, that problem that you know that you need to address.

As simple as ABC 1, 2, 3.

You pick it up at voiceofgod daily.com here's our closing prayer.

God, you are a source of love and we confess that we often you have God, you are the source of love and we confess we often choose an easier or different path than love.

We default to judgment or exclusion or self protection or isolationism.

Help us to remember that love isn't just a feeling but a practice, a politics if you will, a way of being in the world.

When we're tempted to make faith complicated, we're remind us of this simple challenging command.

Love one another.

Give us courage to love radically, to love publicly, to love even when it costs us something.

Make our communities be known not for what we oppose, but for how we love.

Amit well, good folks, good people, we are certainly glad that you joined us here today here in the on the Daily Bible Refresh.

My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

I'll be with you here again tomorrow.

We usually drop our episodes by 6am every single day.

Hope that you'll join us and bring a friend because that is the way that we reach our goal.

Getting the audible word of God into 2 million years, a million people by 2028.

You hope that you'll join us.

Until tomorrow, then.

Friends, remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love.

It doesn't dry up.

It's created new every morning.