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 lesson 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.

Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke 25:33.

Reading from the Message version of the Bible Figure the Cost One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters, yes, even one's own self can't be my disciple.

Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

Is there anyone here who planning to build a new house doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it?

If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to be looking pretty foolish.

Everyone passing by will poke fun at you.

He couldn't start at something he couldn't finish.

Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible, with his 10,000 troops, to face the 20,000 troops of the other?

And if he decides he can't, won't he send an emissary and work out a truce?

Simply put, if you are not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss a goodbye, you can't be my disciple.

Some profound, profound passage of scripture here in this episode, we were talking about the cost of transformative love.

So my friends, My name is Dr. Brad Miller and here to help you to unpack this a little bit as we explore a challenging passage about what it really means to follow Jesus Way of love Reminds me when my wife and I first decided to start out on some of the things we work on, we had to count the cost of opening ourselves up to others.

Pain and struggle.

Here's some points to ponder the first has to do with radical priorities.

Jesus isn't actually telling us to hate our families.

He's using hyperbole to make a point about about priorities and systems.

Just like when I'm watching my beloved Pacers play, sometimes you gotta be willing to completely change your strategy to win a game.

Jesus is calling us to prioritize the work of justice and love over maintaining comfortable systems, even when those systems benefit us personally.

Another point to ponder is about the cost of transformation.

The construction metaphor here hits home for me.

After 33 years of marriage, I learned that building anything worthwhile, whether it's a relationship, a movement of justice, or a home or a more inclusive world, requires careful planning and total commitment.

When my wife and I plan our hiking trips, we don't just start walking.

We prepare and we count the cost.

We prepare and take water and other things with us.

We know what we're getting into.

Another point to ponder is liberation through release.

There's something powerful about Jesus calling to kiss goodbye what's dearest to us.

It reminds me of watching my three adult children kind of forge their own paths in their life.

And sometimes love means to let them go go out of our control.

In progressive Christianity, this might mean releasing privileged positions, comfortable theologies, or traditional power struggles to embrace a more just and inclusive way.

Here's your action step this week.

Take an honest inventory of what you might need to kiss goodbye to fully embrace justice work.

Maybe it's a privilege that you've had in your life, or something you've hung onto that you need to let go of, or a comfortable silence in the face of injustice.

Choose one thing and create a concrete plan to let it go.

Remember, like a dad telling jokes to his granddaughter, sometimes the hardest things become easier when we approach them with honesty and love.

We'll come back with a closing prayer here in just a minute.

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Let's pray.

Oh God, you are the divine challenger.

And we confess that counting the cost of following you often leaves us trembling like a parent watching a child take their first step.

Help us trust the journey, even when it feels uncertain.

Give us courage to release what holds us back from full commitment to your way of love and justice.

When we're tempted to claim the comfort, remind us of the freedom found in letting go.

Help us build something beautiful for future generations, just as we hope our own children and grandchildren will build on the foundations we lay.

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.