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 and we're reading today.

From 2 Corinthians 4, 16, 18 from the Message so we're not giving up?

How could we?

Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

There's far more here than meets the eye.

The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.

But the things we can't see now will last forever.

That ends the reading.

And friends, I just want to thank you for taking a few minutes to spend with me today as we go a little deeper here in the 2 Corinthians 4, 16, 18.

Here Paul says we're not giving up.

And when the outside looks like it's even when the outside looks like things are falling apart.

God on the inside makes things new.

And he calls these hard times small potatoes compared to the coming good times.

There's more going on than meets the eye because present circumstances are temporary and what we can't see is what lasts.

So let's get into some deeper teaching points.

I call them points to ponder that we take from a progressive perspective.

The first is this.

That hope is daily, not denial.

Not a day goes by without his unfolding.

Grace is what it says here in the Scripture.

Progressive faith refuses to bypass pain.

It looks for grace that shows up in small, repeatable ways.

A ride to get treatment for cancer.

A meal dropped off, a phone call.

Laughter that loosens fear.

Hope isn't telling people to cheer up, it's building practices that actually lighten their burdens.

Another point to ponder is bodies matter and so does resilience.

Paul's outside inside isn't anti body, it's honest about wear and tear while honoring inner renewal.

A progressive perspective on this pairs prayer with medicine, therapy, rest and policies that reduce harm.

We trust God's unseen work with while investing in the scene, access to healthcare, mental health support, living wages and communities that hold hold one another that hold one another up.

Another point to ponder is this the future fuels present solidarity.

The quote coming good times isn't escapism, it's energy for repair right now if what lasts is love and justice.

We align our calendars and our budgets with what endures.

Mutual aid, shared power, non violent courage, neighborly care that reduces suffering.

All this is about teaching us how hope is small and steady and joy is a part of the resilience.

Let's look at an action step that you can take this week.

Practice daily grace that is pick one small, repeatable and act that lightens someone else's load.

Then do it for several days in a row, maybe a week.

It can be such things as texting or calling a person who's under some stress in their life and just say hey, I'm here with you.

Or what's something I can do for you today?

Or just be a listening ear.

Another thing you can do is offer practical help.

A ride to a medical appointment.

Help somebody with their insurance paperwork, provide a meal or maybe child care for a caregiver.

Another thing we can do is share power.

Affirm marginalized voices in a meeting that you have some responsibility for.

Make sure that the mic is passed to those who normally don't have a voice or back an inclusive policy in your workplace, your church, or some organization you're a part of.

Keep it small, Keep it steady.

Hope grows by repetition.

We'll come back and have a prayer here in just a minute.

I want you to know until that as we get ready to have prayer, that we have a great resource for you.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

You head over to our website, which is voiceofgoddaily.com that's where you can pick up that resource.

Let's pray.

God of unfolding grace when the outside feels threadbare.

Keep renewing us inside with courage and compassion.

Teach us hope that doesn't deny pain but shows up with meals and rides and listening.

Bless patients and caregivers and night shift workers and new parents, the tried, the tired and the trying.

Bless those and those who are stuck in red tape.

Meet us in hospitals and on the trail in families and in cheering for those who need to be cheered on and the laughter of children and grandchildren Align our days with what lasts.

Love and mercy and justice.

So fewer neighbors carry heavy loads alone.

We're not giving up.

Keep us going one grace at a time.

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.

Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.

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

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.

Sa.