Episode 920
Awakening to Authentic Living: Insights from Ephesians 5
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.
You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".
Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.
Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The examination of Ephesians 5:15-20 offers a rich tapestry of insights into the essence of authentic living, urging us to awaken from a state of complacency and engage in a life imbued with purpose and intention. The biblical text serves as a clarion call, inviting us to eschew the futile distractions that often plague our existence, while simultaneously illuminating the path towards a more profound spiritual awareness. The exhortation to 'wake up' and 'climb out of your coffins' transcends mere metaphor; it encapsulates a transformative invitation to embrace radical consciousness, one that recognizes both individual and collective responsibilities in addressing the systemic injustices that permeate our society. The light of Christ, as articulated in this passage, not only reveals personal shortcomings but also exposes the collective shadows that demand our attention and action.
Furthermore, the episode delves into the theme of resistance against a culture characterized by relentless busyness and superficial engagements. The phrase 'make the most of every chance you get' is reinterpreted as a powerful manifesto against a societal ethos that prioritizes productivity over meaningful existence. In a landscape rife with distractions, the call to utilize our time judiciously becomes a revolutionary act, compelling us to prioritize justice, community, and restorative practices that enhance our spiritual well-being. This reframing of time management emphasizes the importance of choosing actions that resonate with our core values, ultimately leading to a life that is both fulfilling and impactful. The juxtaposition of being filled with the Spirit against the consumption of alcohol serves not as a prohibition but as an invitation to seek authentic sources of joy and community, thereby enriching our spiritual practices through collective celebration and gratitude.
In summation, the actionable insights imparted throughout the episode provide listeners with a practical framework for integrating these profound principles into their daily lives. By identifying and relinquishing activities that detract from meaningful engagement, and replacing them with pursuits rooted in justice or community, we embark on a transformative journey that enhances our spiritual and emotional health. This episode serves as a reminder of the sacred nature of our time and the importance of living intentionally in a world that often seeks to distract and numb. As we answer the divine call to awakening, we empower ourselves to create lives that not only reflect our faith but also contribute positively to the broader society.
Takeaways:
- This episode emphasizes the importance of awakening to authentic living through spiritual awareness.
- We are invited to consider radical awareness of injustices and environmental crises affecting our world.
- The reading encourages us to engage in meaningful actions rather than mere busy work that distracts us.
- Collective joy is highlighted as a spiritual practice that resists cultural numbing and isolation.
- We are urged to examine our use of time and prioritize justice over convenience in our lives.
- The episode concludes with a prayer that seeks guidance for intentional living and community engagement.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgoddaily.com
Transcript
Awakening to Authentic Living Wisdom from Ephesians 5, 15, 20 on the Daily Bible refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with Daily Bible Refresh, a daily reading of the New Testament to bring it into your life and make it understandable, relatable and applicable.
Speaker A:We read from the Revised Common Lectionary where in year C of a three year cycle or in the Pentecost season, we make the reading of the Bible understandable by reading from the Message version.
Speaker A:Relatable by giving you some points to ponder and applicable.
Speaker A:We'll give you an action step to take and we have a prayer.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com that's the home of the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: God into two millionaires by: Speaker A:Let's get into our reading of the Scriptures today.
Speaker A:Today from Ephesians 5, 15, 20 reading from the Message don't waste your time on useless work, mere busy work, the barren pursuits of darkness.
Speaker A:Expose these things for the sham they are.
Speaker A:It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see.
Speaker A:Rip the COVID off these frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Speaker A:Wake up from your sleep.
Speaker A:Climb out of your coffins.
Speaker A:Christ will show you the light.
Speaker A:So watch your step, Use your head.
Speaker A:Make the most of every chance you get.
Speaker A:These are desperate times.
Speaker A:Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly.
Speaker A:Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
Speaker A:Don't drink too much wine, this cheapens your life.
Speaker A:Drink the spirit of God, huge drafts of him.
Speaker A:Sing hymns instead of drinking songs.
Speaker A:Sing songs from your heart in Christ.
Speaker A:Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father.
Speaker A:In the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Speaker A:Well, what a great verse.
Speaker A:A passage of scripture about awakening to authentic living, about intentional living, spiritual awareness.
Speaker A:So let's look at some insights into this that may be helpful to you.
Speaker A:The first one is about radical awareness.
Speaker A:There is the call to wake up and climb out of your coffins.
Speaker A:It's really more than a metaphor, it's an invitation to radical consciousness.
Speaker A:In progressive theology, this awakening often means becoming aware of systematic injustices, environmental crises, and the ways our actions impact others.
Speaker A:The light of Christ reveals not just personal sin, but collective shadows that need addressing by our world.
Speaker A:Another point is It's a sacred time as resistance.
Speaker A:Quote make the most of every chance you get, it says, and it says to take on new meaning in our burnout culture rather than another product productivity mandate.
Speaker A:This can be read as resistance against a system that wastes our time with quote mere busy work.
Speaker A:Using time wisely might mean choosing justice work over profit, relationship over efficiency, or rest over endless production.
Speaker A:Another point is about collective joy as a spiritual practice.
Speaker A:The passage contrasts drinking wine with being filled with the spirit.
Speaker A:But the focus isn't on prohibition.
Speaker A:It's about finding authentic sources of joy and community.
Speaker A:Singing together, celebrating life, practicing gratitude are all parts of basically acts of spiritual resistance against a culture of numbing, consumption and isolation.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Identify an area of quote busy work, an activity that doesn't align with your values or contribute to meaningful change.
Speaker A:Replace that time with either some direct action for justice, community building or intentional rest.
Speaker A:And document how this shift affects your spiritual your spiritual and emotional well being of a Closing Prayer Just a minute.
Speaker A:Always want you to know we've got a resource for you.
Speaker A:It is called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It's going to help you with your daily at home Bible study practices.
Speaker A:It's a point by point process.
Speaker A:You will find it helpful.
Speaker A:You just head over to our website voiceofgoddaily.com there's a link there.
Speaker A:Boop.
Speaker A:You hit the link and you're on your way.
Speaker A:It'll be in your inbox before you know it.
Speaker A:Here to be serving to you.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:God, you are the source of light and love.
Speaker A:Wake us up from our comfortable numbness when we're tempted to lose ourselves in mindless distractions.
Speaker A:Guide us toward meaningful engagement with our world and each other.
Speaker A:Help us recognize the difference between urgent and important, between busy and purposeful, between numbing ourselves and true joy.
Speaker A:Give us courage to examine our use of time, wisdom to choose justice over convenience and strength to live intentionally in these challenging days.
Speaker A:Fill us with your spirit of creativity and courage that our songs may be songs of hope, our celebrations, acts of resistance and our joy.
Speaker A:A light for others in the spirit of Christ who awakens us.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:I love being with you here on Daily Bible Refresh and we have a goal that I hope that you'll just join me in to get the audible word of God into two millionaires.
Speaker A: That's a million people by: Speaker A:That can happen when you join me every day here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:We usually drop our episodes by 6:00am Eastern Time and subscribe to the podcast and invite others to join us it's just that simple.
Speaker A:Go to voiceofgoddaily.com I'll see you again tomorrow.
Speaker A:Until that time, remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.
Speaker A:Every.
