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 Romans 3:1:8 from the message so what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't?

And who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't?

As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference, but not the difference so many have assumed.

First, there's a matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation.

These holy Scriptures.

So what if in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post?

God didn't abandon them.

Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness?

Not on your life.

Depend on it.

God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth.

Scripture says the same.

Your words stand fast and true rejection doesn't faze you.

But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's right doing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out?

Since our lies don't make a dent in his truth, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word?

These questions come up.

The answer to such questions is no.

A most emphatic no.

How else could things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?

It's simply perverse to say if my lives serve to show of God's truth, all the more gloriously, why blame me?

I'm doing God a favor.

Some people are actually trying to put such words in our mouths, claiming that we go around saying the more evil we do, the more good God does.

So let's just do it.

That's pure slander, as I'm sure you'll agree.

Well, that's the end of the reading.

Let's talk about this issue of walking in truth, exploring faith beyond the rules.

My name is Dr. Brad Miller, here to be helpful as we kind of dive into the scripture here.

And it's a fascinating passage for Romans that really challenges to think differently about faith and truth and our relationship with God the divine.

He reminds us some conversations I have with people who have difficulties in my cancer groups that I'm a part of.

Sometimes people are just struggling and sometimes the most profound truths come through wrestling with difficult questions of even of life and death.

So let's explore right now some thought provoking points to ponder, I like to call them.

The first one is about going beyond binary thinking, which is Paul's wrestling with this question about identity and belonging.

Who's in and who's out.

That's the binary part of things.

You know, I've been married for coming up on 34 years and we've raised three wonderful kids.

And I've learned that life doesn't very rarely fall into neat categories.

That's what my family's journey has taught me, that real relationships are messy and beautiful and not rigid and not rule bound.

God works through the messes and works through all people, not just who sit in certain kind of boxes or criteria.

Another point to ponder is about truth versus truthfulness.

This passage talks about God's truth standing firm even when humans aren't truthful.

When my wife and I take walks from time to time, the trail is there and we almost always follow the trail.

Whether we stay on it or not is our choice.

But here's the progressive twist in all this.

Maybe it's about not having all the right answers, but maybe it's about being honest about our questions and doubts.

A third point is that God grace isn't a loophole.

Paul addresses this fascinating argument.

He goes quote, if our wrongdoing shows God's goodness, why not do more wrong?

Interesting, isn't it?

It's like saying, if losing makes my beloved Pacer's victory sweeter, why wouldn't we celebrate losing?

You know, sometimes, sometimes sports teams will lose on purpose in order to get a better draft pick and things like that.

I never really liked that, never really kind of that.

The answer here is a resounding no.

True transformation is about trying the game of the system.

It's about authentic growth and genuine love for others.

Here's your action step this week.

Practice radical honesty with yourself.

Where have you been?

Trying to fit faith into boxes that are too small.

Write down one belief you've inherited that might need re examination.

Sit with it.

Not to reject it necessarily, but to understand it more deeply.

We're going to pray here.

Just a minute.

They want you to know we've got a resource for you.

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

You can pick it up at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.

Oh God, you're the source of all truth.

Help us to embrace the complete complexity of faith rather than seeking simple answers.

Give us courage to ask hard questions and wisdom to live in the tension of not always having the answers.

Thank you for being bigger than our doubts and wider than our certainties.

Help us be honest with ourselves and with others, knowing that your love holds us even in our questioning.

Guide us towards authentic faith that transforms.

That transforms us and the world.

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.

Love hasn't dried up, gets created new every morning.

Sa.