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 lesson 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.

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Here's today's reading and we're reading from.

The from the New Testament reading from Jude and We're reading verses 17 through 25 from the Message.

But remember, dear friends, that the apostles of our Master Jesus Christ told us this would happen in the last days.

There would be people who don't take these things seriously anymore.

They'll treat it like a joke and make religion of their own whims and lusts.

These are the ones who split churches, thinking only of themselves.

There is nothing to them, no sign of the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up.

This is the most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master Jesus Christ.

This is the unending life, the real life.

Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith.

Go after those who take the wrong way.

Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin.

The sin itself stinks to high heaven now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master.

Be glory, majesty, strength and rule before all time now unto the end of all time.

Yes, that ends the reading here from this passage from the Letter of Jude.

And in this reading, Jude sees communities getting torn up by ego and cynicism, and he's pretty blunt about it.

He says that some folks make religion out of their whims to split churches and treat sacrifices as things like a joke.

But then he pivots.

Build yourself up in love, he says.

Keep your arms open for mercy.

Go gently with doubters.

Be tender with people and firm with them who harm you.

And be firm with what harms them and trust the one who keeps us standing.

That's kind of our overview of the scripture there.

And let's get a little deeper now to some points to ponder.

First is to stay at the center of love on purpose.

Jude says build yourselves up.

Staying right at the center of God's love.

That's a practice, not a vibe, not a feeling.

That's a practice.

And progressive faith treats prayer, therapy, community care, justice and justice work as braided strands of one love, not escaping the world we're resourcing to engage it.

Prayer in the spirit can look like breath, prayers before a hard conversation, a support group that names a reality a walk in the woods and returns us to our bodies or advocating for policies that reduce harm.

The point isn't spiritual performance, it's staying rooted enough to love well.

Another point is to be gentle with struggle and firm with harm.

It says here in the scripture, go easy with those who hesitate.

Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin.

Interesting and beautiful turn of a phrase there.

It's a beautiful ethic for messy communities.

People deserve patience, harmful patterns, not boundaries.

A progressive reading refuses shame.

Doubt isn't a defect.

It's often the doorway to deeper faith, especially for folks who've been excluded, such as LBGDQ people or people of color or survivors of church harm.

Tenderness for people, clarity without harm.

We separate a person's worth, which is non negotiable, from behaviors or systems that wound which can be named and changed.

Another.

Point to ponder is to resist performative outrage and practice constructive belonging.

Jude calls out those who split communities by centering on themselves.

We've seen the version where charisma outruns character and outrage becomes a brand.

The alternative is slow, accountable belonging, mutual aid, transparent leadership, consent based welcome and spirituality that elevates the common good over personal platform.

Quote ready for mercy.

Close quote isn't mushy.

It's choosing repair over spectacle, community care over clout.

Let's talk about an action step that you can take this week.

It's called open arms and strong Boundaries.

It's about to have kind of a.

Kind of a rhythm in your day that is maybe center yourself for a couple minutes with slow breathing on the inhale, love holds me and on the exhale, love moves me.

And in mercy, text or call a person who might be hesitant or hurting and just ask them.

How can I be here for you this week?

How can I show up for you?

Listen, without fixing and in boundary setting, name one harm you won't accommodate today.

Such as demeaning talk or misinformation or even overwork.

Decide on a kind, clear response in advance to set the boundary and a repair.

Do some small act that reduces suffering, deliver a meal, share a ride, give an encouraging phone call or post give to some mutual aid group like a food pantry, or encourage a caregiver who spent a lot of time caring for somebody.

Let this little rhythm here be small and steady and let love deepen as you repeat this.

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

I did want you to know that we have a rep resource for you.

It's called the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.

I hope that you go head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com that's where you can pick up that resource.

Let's pray God who keeps us standing, hold us at the center of your love when the edges feel loud.

Make us gentle with those who doubt and steady when harm must be named and changed.

Teach us to open our arms without losing our backbone.

Bless the caregivers, the patients, the tired and the trying, the ones in church pews, the ones who can't bear to come back.

Meet us on hospital floors and on wooded trails and family group chats and in late night worries and laughter and groans.

And keep our communities humble, accountable and brave, tender with people, firm with what hurts them and when we wobble, keep us on our feet, fresh and celebrating in your bright presence.

Amen.

My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.

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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, it's created new every morning.