Foreign 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's reading is from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verses 34 through 42.

So let's get into it from the Message version of the Bible don't think I've come to make life cozy.

I've come to cut.

Make a sharp knife cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother in law.

Cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God.

Well meaning family members can be your worst enemies.

If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me.

If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me.

If you don't go all the way with me through thick and thin, you don't deserve me.

If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself.

But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me, we are intimately linked in this harvest work.

Anyone who accepts what you do accepts me, the one who sent you.

Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father who sent me.

Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger.

Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help.

This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it.

It's best to start small.

Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance.

The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice.

You won't lose out on a thing.

Well, this is an incredible passage of scripture here really challenges us.

It's about radical love that goes beyond comfort.

I'm Dr. Brad Miller and we're diving into one of Jesus most challenging teachings here today.

You know, as someone who's been married for 33 years and treasures my family time with my with my sons and daughter and my granddaughters.

These words about family division make me a little bit uncomfortable.

But let's explore a little deeper what Jesus might really be getting at to getting at here.

So let's get into some points to ponder.

The first one is breaking comfortable patterns.

Jesus isn't actually anti family.

He's challenging systems that maintain injustice.

It reminds me of conversations I have on my cancer podcast that sometimes healing requires disrupting comfortable patterns.

Just like my team, the Pacers need to shake it up in their game strategy from time to time.

Our faith calls us to be challenging the status quo even when it's uncomfortable.

A second point to ponder is about redefining family and community.

This passage of scripture invites us to expand our understanding of family beyond blood.

In my years of being hiking and going walks with my wife, we've met some incredible people.

And we've met people in our lives who've really become almost family like.

And Jesus is calling on us to create communities based on shared values of justice and compassion.

This is particularly relevant today as we work to create inclusive spaces for LGBTQ people, immigrants and others who might be rejected by their families of origin.

Another point is about the revolution of small acts.

I love how Jesus ends with the simple act of giving water.

It's like sometimes when I tell dad jokes in my cancer support work, sometimes the smallest gestures carry the most meaning.

Jesus is saying that revolution doesn't always look like grand gestures.

It can be as simple as meeting basic needs.

Every small act of justice and kindness matters.

Here's your action step for the day.

Identify a comfortable aspect of your life that might be preventing you from from fully engaging in justice work.

Maybe it's privileged silence or harmful tradition or an exclusive practice.

Then take one small step to challenge it.

Remember, like giving a cup of water, start with something manageable but meaningful.

We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but I did want you to know we've got a great resource just for you to help with your own at home Daily Bible Study.

You use it in coordination with what we do here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

It's called the ABC123 Bible Study Method and you pick it up by going to our website, voiceofgodddaily.com there's a link right there.

Let's pray.

Oh God, you are a divine disruptor.

And we confess that we often choose comfort over justice.

Just like the joy of my granddaughter's laughter.

Help us find delight in creating new forms of community.

When family expectations conflict with your call for justice, give us courage to choose love over tradition.

Help us see that small acts, a cup of water, a welcoming smile, a stand for justice matter deeply.

Guide us in building families of choice that reflect your inclusive love.

Remind us, as I've learned through my years of marriage and parenting, that true love sometimes requires holy disruption.

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.