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 Matthew, second chapter, verses 1 through 12 from the Message Scholars from the East After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory this was during Herod's kingship.

A band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the east and they asked around, where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews?

We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth.

We're on pilgrimage to worship him.

When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified.

And not Herod alone, but most of the Jerusalem as well.

Herod lost no time.

He gathered all the high priests and religious scholars in the city together and asked, where is the Messiah supposed to be born?

They told him, Bethlehem, Judah territory.

The prophet Micah wrote it plainly, you Bethlehem in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear.

From you will come the leader who were shepherd rule my people, my Israel.

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the east.

Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell them exactly where the birth announcement star appeared.

Then he told them the prophecy.

Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem and said, go find this child.

Leave no stone unturned.

As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship.

Instructed by the king, they sent off.

Then the star appeared again, and the same star they had seen in the eastern skies.

It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child.

They could hardly contain themselves.

They were in the right place.

They had arrived at the right time.

They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother.

Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him.

They opened their luggage and presented gifts of Gold, frankincense, myrrh.

In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod.

So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.

Well, my friend, I'm so glad you're here.

That concludes the reading in this passage from the message the scholars from the east followed a star met Mary and the child Jesus offered gifts and then after a warning, take an alternate route to avoid Herod back to their homeland.

This is a story about worship that resists harm, wisdom that crosses boundaries, and courage that listens to dreams.

Let's get into some points to ponder some teaching points about this passage.

The first one is that outsiders lead the way.

God's light is bigger than our borders.

The first worshipers were foreign scholars, not local elites.

Progressive faith recognizes God is at work through people and traditions beyond our own circle.

Interfaith humility, Immigrant welcome and listening to wisdom from the east it's not a threat, it's a gift.

I see this gift in my life in all kinds of ways, including when I have my cancer related podcast where hope and humor come together from all kinds of voices.

Cancer is no respecter of anything else.

It goes across all kinds of boundaries and barriers.

Same way here in this case.

Here the visitors, the wise men from the east, learn to spot the star T together along with the others.

A second point to ponder is worship that protects the vulnerable is worship God wants.

Herod pretends piety but aims to harm.

The scholars refused to cooperate.

They chose an alternate route and Progressive faith reads this as civil courage.

We don't feed systems that endanger children, families or communities.

Real devotion puts bodies and well being first, and policy and advocacy at Practical Care.

At my house, this takes on small acts, showing up with be helpful to food for a neighbor, sitting with someone during treatment, or making a phone call or a Facebook post that helps resources reach those in need.

Another point to ponder is to bring gifts that serve the journey.

Not the eagle.

Gold, frankincense, myrrh were costly and symbolic, but also likely practical for a family about to travel.

Progressive faith asked what gifts help people get free.

Our time, our money, our votes and our skills aren't for impressing kings.

They're for sustaining real life.

And my wife and I love to hike in the woods, for instance.

And we love and we love to be in places where there is shared energy for nature.

And so we understand that that is a shared thing for all people.

It's not for ego, it is to be shared.

That's why there's parks and preserves that help people to enjoy those things.

Let's talk now about an action step for this week.

Practice the alternative route.

Identify a place where harm or fear is baked into the status quo, a conversation that gossips or a policy that excludes or a need that is being unmet and choose some small concrete way to support that is cooperate with these acts of non cooperation with acts of cooperation things for good.

Redirect a conversation with dignity.

Email your representative about some harm that is being done that do what you can to protect vulnerable families.

Donate to a food bank or a clothes closet for there or offer some aid to refugee groups for people who are dis who are disconnected from their homes or set up a meal training or some other way to help someone who's going through cancer treatment.

Keep it tangible, keep it local and keep it kind.

We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but I want you to know that we who do have a resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study method.

We'd love for you to go check that out@voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.

O God of starlight and safe routes, teach us to spot your light in unexpected places and people.

Give us courage to worship you by protecting the vulnerable with our gifts, our choices and our voices.

When power pretends piety, help us to take the alternative route and guide our feet toward justice and mercy.

Be close to those who are navigating illness and treatments on long nights.

Let hope arrive through presence and meals and gentle humor.

Bless our families, our neighborhoods and the trails that we walk.

Remind us that joy is a compass that we can trust.

Amen.

My friend.

I am delighted you 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.

Sa.