Light and Love that goes beyond binary thinking A Reflection on First John 2, 7:11 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello my good friends, Dr.

Brad Miller here with you with your daily visit to the New Testament.

Our reading today is from the Revised Common Lectionary, the selected verse for this very day, which is a three year cycle of readings.

We're in Year C in the Pentecost season.

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We give you some points to ponder applicable.

We give you an action step.

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Here's our reading for the day from the Epistle of First John 2, 7:11.

Reading from the Message My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here.

This is the oldest commandment in the book and you've known it from day one.

It's always been implicit in the message you've heard.

On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted, as it is in both Christ and you.

The darkness fading away in the true light already blazing.

Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark is the person who loves brother and sister, who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others.

But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up.

Blinded by the darkness.

Well, in today's reflection, we're exploring this challenging verse of Scripture.

Passage of scripture from 1st John 2, 7:11 about the relationship between God's divine light and the human connection.

Let's talk about some points to ponder.

The first is about love as a revolutionary practice.

The text here suggests that love isn't just a feeling, but a way of being that transform how we see and interact with the world.

In progressive theology, this challenges us to move beyond simple tolerance to active solidarity and mutual care.

The oldest commandment becomes radically new when we understand love as a force for social transformation.

A second point is about the interconnection of liberation.

The passage links both personal spiritual enlightenment with how we treat others.

We can't claim to walk in light while participating in systems of hatred and oppression.

This challenges individualistic spirituality and reminds us that our liberation is bound up with others freedom.

A third point is about going beyond binary opposition.

While the text uses light dark imagery, progressive interpretation invites us to move beyond simple dualism.

Rather than condemning those we see as in darkness, we're called to examine how we might be blocking light from others through our actions, institutions, or complicity with oppressive systems.

Let's talk about an action step.

Identify one way you might be blocking the light from others through prejudice, privilege or participation in unjust systems.

Choose a concrete action to remove this barrier and create more space for mutual flourishing.

Document how this changes your understanding of both love and light.

We're going to come back and have a prayer in just a minute.

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Let's pray.

Oh God, you are a source of light and love.

And when we mistake judgment or justice, separation for safety, privilege for enlightenment, call us back to love's demanding way.

Help us see beyond simple divisions of light and dark to recognize our shared journey toward liberation and healing.

Show us where we block the light from reaching others, where our comfort creates shadows, where our certainty causes harm.

May we become people who make space for other voices.

Remove barriers to belonging, create pathways for shared light.

Transform our understanding of love from comfortable feeling to revolutionary practice, from personal preference to collective liberation.

Amen.

I want to thank you for joining me today here in Daily Bible Refresh.

Always a pleasure and a privilege for us to be together.

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I'll see you again tomorrow here on the Daily Bible Refresh.

My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

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

His merciful love hasn't dried up.

It's created new every morning.

Sa.