Radical Love as Resistance A study of Luke 6:27 38 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller and hello good people.

Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller.

This is our daily reading of the Bible.

We read the New Testament.

We read the Message version which makes it understandable for you to listen to.

We make it relatable by giving you some points to ponder, to think about applicable give you an action step.

We do all of that and we have a prayer in under nine minutes.

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We are in Year C of the three year cycle.

We use the Revised Common Lectionary and today is the seventh Sunday after the epiphany season.

Here we're reading today from the message Luke 6:27 38 to you who are ready for the truth, I say this Love your enemies.

Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.

When someone gives you a hard time, respond with a supple moves of prayer for that person.

If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it.

If someone grabs your shirt, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it.

If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.

No more payback.

Live generously.

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior.

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you.

Then grab the initiative and do it for them.

If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back?

Run of the mill centers do that.

If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal?

Garden variety centers do that.

If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity?

The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I tell you, love your enemies, help and give without expecting a return.

You'll never, I promise, regret it.

Live out this God created identity the way our Father lives toward you, generously and graciously even when we're at our worst.

Our Father is kind and so you be kind.

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults.

Unless of course you want the same treatment.

Don't condemn those who are down.

That hardness can boomerang.

Be easy on people.

You'll find life a lot easier.

Give away your life.

You'll find your life given back.

But not merely given back.

Given back with bonus and blessing.

Giving not getting is the way generosity begets generosity.

Wow, wonderful reading from the day's from today's lectionary message.

It's a reading here where Jesus challenges really are a conventional understanding of what is love and justice and human relationships.

Let's take a look at a few points to ponder here.

The first point is about a radical love as resistance.

Jesus gives us this command, love your enemies.

This isn't just about being passive or accepting abuse.

Rather, it's a radical form of resistance that refuses to let hatred define our response.

When we choose love in the face of an enemy, we bring cycles of violence and retribution.

This isn't about maintaining the status quo, it's about transforming it through unexpected acts of humanity.

Another point to think about is economic justice and generosity.

I want you to notice here how Jesus connects spiritual practice with economic behavior.

When he talks about lending without expecting return and giving away coats, he is critiquing a system of economic exploitation, which in our modern context might look like supporting debt forgiveness, advocating for living wages, or questioning capitalism's demand for constant return on investment.

One more point to ponder this is the politics of non judgment.

Jesus warning against criticism and condemnation feels particularly relevant in our culture that we're in right now.

While accountability matters, Jesus suggests that rushing to judgment often says more about our own insecurities and privilege than about others failings.

True justice works toward restoration, not retribution.

Here's your action step for today.

I want you to identify one enemy that is someone you have some sort of opposing view about, maybe politically or something else, or maybe someone who's hurt you and take a concrete step or some action to demonstrate some form of humanity toward them.

This might mean amplifying their work, giving them credit when it aligns with you, or defending them when others speak ill of them, or simply sending a message of acknowledging of them as a human being.

Give them dignity.

Remember, this isn't about excusing human behavior, but it's about maintaining our own integrity and vision of a more just world.

We're going to pray in just a minute here to close our time together, but I did want to remind you that we are here for you every day.

But also every day you need to be into the scriptures of your own accord.

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

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Let's pray God, you are divine Love.

We live in a world that teaches us to guard our hearts, to keep score and to view generosity as a weakness.

Help us to remember that our liberation is bound together even with those we struggle to love.

Give us courage to practice radical generosity, wisdom to critique systems without dehumanizing people, and strength to keep choosing love when hate seems easier.

May we be instruments of the justice that heals and the kindness that transforms.

Amen.

Well, it's always a joy to be with you here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

We're here every day.

We usually drop our episodes before 6am Eastern Time and we hope that you'll join us again tomorrow and bring a friend this time.

Until then, My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

I'll be with you tomorrow.

Remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new every morning.