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.

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Here's today's reading.

Here we're reading today from Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 1 through 8 from the Message the source of your pollution.

The Pharisees, along with some religion scholars who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around him.

They noticed that some of his disciples weren't being careful with ritual washings before meals.

The Pharisees, Jews in general in fact, would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand washing with an especially vigorous scrubbing if they had just come from the market, to say nothing of the scourings they'd given the jugs and pots and pans.

The Pharisees and religion scholars asked, why do your disciples brush off the rules, showing up at meals without washing their hands?

And Jesus answered, isaiah was right about frauds like you hit the bullseye.

In fact, these people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it.

They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it.

They, excuse me, as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, ditching God's command and taking up the latest fads.

Well, my good people, my friends, thanks for being with me on this passage of scripture as we come together here on Daily Bible Refresh.

Our reading is From Gospel Mark 7:1:8 from the Message.

And the Pharisees here kind of confront Jesus and his disciples because they weren't following the ritual hand washing of the day.

And Jesus answers with a quote.

He quotes Isaiah, these people make a big show, but their heart isn't in it.

And that's the key of what we're gonna talk about today.

He's pushing us to ask what matters more, performing religion or practicing love?

So let's get into some points to ponder from the progressive point of view.

The first is that Jesus centers the heart over performances.

See, Mark 7 isn't really about hygiene, it's hygiene is necessary.

In fact, the Judaic laws regarding hand washing were a very important process of cleanness, of cleanliness and hygiene in their day for health reasons, among many others.

But this Here in Mark 7 isn't about hygiene, it's about hierarchy.

Ritual can be beautiful, but when the rules become gatekeepers, they keep people out.

And Jesus names it.

He says, you're ditching God's command to take up the latest fads.

Now progressive faith puts compassion and justice at the core.

We measure our faith not by perfect rituals, but by whether the hungry are fed, the sick are cared for, the marginalized are welcomed, and truth is practiced with mercy.

If tradition harms people or hides power, it's time to re examine it.

Second point to ponder Tradition is a tool, not the target.

Jesus doesn't hate tradition, far from it.

He hates when tradition eclipses love commands aim at dignity and neighbors care.

When our practices elevate image over integrity, we lose the plot.

In real life, churches can cling to how we've always done it while ignoring issues of accessibility, equity or inclusion.

The wisdom of this passage asks, does this habit help us love?

If the answer is no, Jesus invites us to reform, relook, reframe, so that the command to love God and neighbor isn't replaced by performance purity.

A third point to ponder Hypocrisy wounds, authenticity heals.

Isaiah's critique stings because performative religion looks holy while leaving people harmed.

Authentic faith is consistent, gentle, truthful, merciful.

In my cancer impacted people podcast community, the holiest moments aren't always eloquent.

They're practical.

Have you visited someone?

Have you given somebody a ride to treatment?

Some meals been delivered?

Have you laughed with somebody on a hard day?

That's what it looks like when your heart is in it.

Jesus is not anti awash.

He's pro love.

The question is whether our practices serve people or serve our image.

Here's an action step for this week.

A heart first swap that is identify one religious or maybe a personal tradition that prioritizes appearance over compassion.

Strict etiquette that excludes purity, talk that shames policies that make access harder and swap it for a concrete act of mercy.

Invite someone who's been sidelined in some way or other.

Make space for them in your life.

Deliver a meal, volunteer at a food pantry, offer child care, advocate for adequate health, health care and equal housing, food, access in your community, welcoming the immigrants.

Keep it simple and repeatable.

Let love, not optics set the standard.

We're going to come back and have a prayer here to close things, but I did want you to know that we have a great Bible study resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method and really want you to get it at our website voiceofgodaily.com let's pray.

God who sees the heart, we confess how easy it is to polish the outside and and ignore the inside.

Teach us to choose compassion over performance, mercy over image.

In our homes, at church, in waiting rooms, on the trails.

Make our practices serve people, not our pride.

Bless our families, our travels.

Let laughter remind us what honest joy sounds like and be close to those facing illness.

Fill our days with companions and compassion of hope and humor.

Give us courage to reform traditions that hurt and persistence to build communities of dignity, truth and love.

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.