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.

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I use the message version Relatable.

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Subscribe here's today's reading reading from 1 Timothy 1:1 11 from the Message I, Paul, am an Apostle on special assignment for Christ for living hope under God our Savior's command.

I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my Son of the Faith.

All the best from our God and Christ be yours Self appointed experts on life on my way to the province of Macedonia, I advise you to to stay in Ephesus.

Well, I haven't changed my mind.

Stay right there on top of things so that the p so that the teaching stays on track.

Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.

The whole point of what urging is simply love.

Love uncontaminated by self interest and counterfeit faith.

A life open to God.

Those who fail to keep up to this point soon wander off to dead ends of gossip.

They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such eloquence.

It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say.

It's obvious, isn't it, that the Law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever.

They are cynical towards this great message I've been put in charge of by this great God that ends the message or ends the reading of the message.

So let's talk now about this whole issue, this whole topic of love without conditions.

My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I've got a story that kind of sets up what we're talking about this here.

My wife and I like to take a walk almost every day and we're we like to hike and do things and sometimes we take walks with our granddaughters.

And one of them asked me about trees and why there are rules about growing trees and I couldn't resist.

I told them they don't have rules, they just kind of go with the flow.

I know that's an eye roller, but you know what?

An innocent question like that actually connects beautifully with our passage from First Timothy 1:1 11.

We're diving into a text that challenges to think deeply about love, law and what really matters in life and faith.

So let's explore the key points that I believe are relevant for progressive Christians today.

Number one is that love is the center, not rules.

The passage emphasizes that the whole point is simply love love uncontaminated by self interest.

It says in my 33 year marriage to my wife, our relationship works not because we follow a rule book, but because we center everything in our love for each other.

Similarly, progressive Christianity calls us to focus on love as as the core of our faith rather than getting caught up in rigid doctrines or judgmental attitudes.

Second thing is about beware of religious gatekeeping.

Paul warns about self appointed experts who love to hear themselves talk but miss the point entirely.

You know, this reminds me when I work with cancer impacted people I have a podcast all about that.

We've learned that authentic support and presence matter far more than having the right answers, sometimes even the medical answers.

Progressive faith invites us to question those who claim exclusive authority over truth.

A third point is that context matters and moral guidance.

The passage notes that how and to whom we speak in is important as what we say.

I like to watch the Pacers in Fever play basketball and sometimes one strategy doesn't work and the coach has to change strategies to just try something else.

Progressive Christianity calls us to be contextual in our approach, understanding that rigid one size fits all rules often miss the mark.

Here's your reactions tip.

I challenge you to practice what we might call love centered listening.

When you encounter someone with with a different view, political, religious, personal, don't try to jump into, correct or debate them.

Take time to truly listen with love to them and notice how this changes the conversation and learn.

Write down what you've learned from that experience.

We're going to pray in just a minute, but I want to remind you that we've got a great resource for you help you with your own daily Bible study.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.

Head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com to pick it up.

Let's pray.

Oh God, you are a loving Creator and help us to strip away the layers of self interest and pretense that sometimes cloud our faith like a clear trail through the woods.

Show us a path of love that leads to authentic relationships with you and others.

When we're tempted to become experts in others lives, remind us to become experts in our own life about compassion instead of guide us to speak truth with love and to listen with open hearts.

And remember that your message is always one of inclusion transformative love.

And thank you for walking with us in this journey.

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.