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.

So today we're reading from Colossians 4, 7, 17 from the Message version of the Bible.

Here's the reading My good friend Tysius.

Will tell you all about me.

He's a trusted minister and companion in the service of the Master.

I've sent him to you so that you would know how things are with us and so he could encourage you in our faith.

And I've sent Onesimus with him.

Onesimus is one of you and has become such a trusted and dear brother.

Together they'll bring you up to date on everything that has been going on here.

Aristocacus, who is in jail here with me, sends greetings.

Also Mark, cousin of Barnabas, you received a letter regarding him.

If he shows up, welcome him.

And also Jesus, the one they call Justice.

These are the only ones left in the old crowd who have stuck with me in working for God's kingdom.

Don't think they haven't been a big help.

Epaphras, who is one of you, says hello.

What a trooper he's been.

He's been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature and and confident in everything God wants you to do.

I've watched him closely and can report how hard he has worked for you and for those in Laodicea and Harapolis.

Luke, good friend and physician, and Demos both send greetings.

Say hello to our friends at Laodicea, also in Nymphia and the church that meets in her house.

After this letter has been read to you, the make sure it gets read to also to Laodicea and get the letter that went to Laodicea and have it read to you.

And oh yes, tell Archippus, do Your best in the job you receive from the master.

Do your very best.

This is a great passage of scripture with lots of difficult names to pronounce.

I gotta say it's but it does an episode about all these people, all these characters coming together to build a beloved community.

My name is Dr. Brad Mather, here to help you to understand this passage of scripture which is fascinating from the book of Colossians.

And it kind of reads almost like a social media thread full of connections and shout outs and community updates.

And it kind of reminds me how my wife and I keep in touch with our three adult children.

It's kind of a mixed bag of shared photos, virtual check ins, text, Facebook posts, things like that.

Here's your points to ponder for today about this passage.

The first is about the power of diverse community.

Paul's letter introduces us to an incredible diverse group.

Onesimus, likely an enslaved person.

Mark, who had previously disappointed Paul, Luke, a physician, and Nymphia, a woman who is a health church leader.

I have the cancer support people in my podcast and I've learned that healing and growth and happen best in communities where people who have different perspective and experiences are valued.

This early Christian community was breaking social barriers and honestly, we're still struggling with today.

The second point is about house churches and radical hospitality.

The mention of Nymphia's house church reminds us of something powerful.

You know, kind of like when my granddaughters transform our living room to kind of their princess castle.

These early Christians transformed early spaces into sacred ones.

They didn't need any grand buildings or institutional structures, just open hearts and open homes.

My wife and I like to get together with our friends for dinner and for even walks.

And the sacred shows up in simple acts of welcome.

Another point is about a ministry of encouragement.

Paul's constant affirmations.

What a trooper.

Such a trusted and dear brother.

Do your very best.

Show us that encouragement isn't just being nice, it's revolutionary.

It's kind of like when I use humor, dad jokes and so on.

And working with cancer patients.

Encouragement can help people find strength they didn't know they had.

The early church thrived not through hierarchy, but through mutual support, recognition.

Here's your action step this week.

Create your own letter of encouragement.

Write to two or three people who are part of a community.

You're part of church or spiritual community, or maybe it's another group of people, maybe they're not even religious.

But they help you grow.

And like Paul, be specific about what value they add to your life.

And here's the challenge include someone who might be surprised to receive your appreciation, someone outside your usual circle of friends.

We're going to have a closing prayer here in just a minute.

Just a reminder, we have a great resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

It's free to you.

You just go to our website voiceofgoddaily.com you can pick it up there.

Let's pray.

God, you are a loving Creator and we thank you for our diverse and beautiful communities.

Help us appreciate how different gifts make the whole team stronger.

Give us courage to open our homes and hearts like Nymphia to offer encouragement like Paul, to stand by each other like Erasmus, or when we're tempted to build walls.

Remind us of these early Christians who broke them down and help us create spaces as welcoming as a child's laughter and as nurturing as a family at a dinner table.

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.