Episode 1162
How Does Remembering God’s Grace Change Our Next Step? (1 Corinthians 10:1–5)
The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around the profound significance of memory as it pertains to our spiritual journey and communal identity. We delve into the passage from 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, wherein the apostle Paul admonishes us to remember our historical experiences not merely for nostalgia, but as a guiding principle towards wisdom and compassion in the present. It is asserted that grace, while a divine gift, does not assure a life devoid of challenges; rather, it compels us towards acts of justice and sharing in communal sustenance. We also explore practical applications of these insights, encouraging listeners to transform memories of grace into tangible acts of kindness for others in need. Ultimately, this episode invites us to reflect on how our past experiences can shape our present actions and foster a more equitable community.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of remembering our history in order to navigate the present with wisdom and compassion.
- Listeners are encouraged to reflect on moments of grace they have experienced to inspire acts of kindness towards others in need.
- The notion that grace is a gift which should propel us toward justice is a central theme discussed throughout the episode.
- The hosts provide actionable steps for listeners to implement the teachings of the episode in their daily lives, fostering a sense of community and support.
- The conversation highlights the significance of community, urging listeners to work collectively towards ensuring that no one is abandoned during difficult times.
- Finally, the podcast serves as a reminder that God's love and grace are ever-present, encouraging listeners to remain hopeful and engaged in acts of solidarity.
Links referenced in this episode:
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)
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- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
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Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Subscribe here's today's reading and we are
Speaker B:reading from 1 Corinthians 10:1 5 from the Message Remember our history friends, and be warned.
Speaker B:All our ancestors were led by the providential cloud and taken miraculously through the sea.
Speaker B:They went through the waters at a baptism like ours as Moses led them from enslaving death to to salvation life.
Speaker B:They all ate and drank identical food and drink meals provided daily by God.
Speaker B:They drank from the rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were, and the rock was Christ.
Speaker B:But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much.
Speaker B:Most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert and God was not pleased.
Speaker B:Well, friends, I want to thank you for joining me today in this going a little deeper in this passage here.
Speaker B:And in this passage we have the people who are led by the cloud passing through the sea.
Speaker B:They're fed daily, they're drinking from a rock that followed him and Christ himself, it says here, and that's a whole lot of provision.
Speaker B:And then they still were undone by temptation.
Speaker B:I think this is a story that relates to almost all of us at one time or another.
Speaker B:We have a lot going for us and still we mess up.
Speaker B:So let's get into a couple of points to ponder about this passage and see how they relate to our life.
Speaker B:The first one is this first point to ponder.
Speaker B:Memory isn't a museum, it's a map.
Speaker B:Paul says remember our history and be warned, he's not calling this for nostalgia's sake.
Speaker B:He's calling us to remember for wisdom.
Speaker B:And for progressive Christians reading this passage, this isn't about shaming the past.
Speaker B:It's about letting the past guide Our compassion Right now, this story is liberation from enslaving death to salvation.
Speaker B:Life.
Speaker B:Memory here is about identity and direction.
Speaker B:Who are we?
Speaker B:In other words, people who are free to together.
Speaker B:Where are we going?
Speaker B:Toward a community where everyone eats and drinks, where no one is abandoned in the desert.
Speaker B:So that's what we got going on here.
Speaker B:Now if you follow my podcast here for any length of time, you know that I also have another podcast called Cancer and Comedy where I It speaks to people impacted by cancer patients, caregivers, survivors who are trying to survive with hope and humor.
Speaker B:And memory is an important part of that journey.
Speaker B:Remembering joyful times with loved ones, a clear scan when you are healthy, and the laugh you may have shared with a joke or a groan.
Speaker B:These aren't just sweet moments, they're landmarks.
Speaker B:They tell us that you've carried through before and you are not walking alone.
Speaker B:Now here's a second point to ponder.
Speaker B:Grace is a gift, not a guarantee, and it moves us toward justice.
Speaker B:It says here they all ate and drank identical food and drink, God's fountain.
Speaker B:For them, the rock was Christ.
Speaker B:That is abundance.
Speaker B:But Paul says that experiencing wonder didn't always translate into faithful living when things got hard.
Speaker B:From a left of center lens, the move here isn't to try harder, to be good so God won't be mad.
Speaker B:It's don't hoard grace.
Speaker B:Let grace reshape the world.
Speaker B:If Christ is the rock that follows us, then Christ is present in the hospital room, on the picket line, in the homeless shelter, at the food pantry.
Speaker B:In communities marginalized by race, gender, sexuality, disability.
Speaker B:Grace isn't a guarantee that everything goes my way.
Speaker B:It's like a summons to share bread and water so others live too well.
Speaker B:Let's talk about an application step.
Speaker B:Something we can do here.
Speaker B:Here's something to do that you can practice.
Speaker B:It's called remembering forward.
Speaker B:Here's what I mean.
Speaker B:Choose a moment where you provided for in the past, where you suddenly had that check come in the mail they weren't expecting, or a meal or someone had bought you a meal, or somehow you survived, you got through, you received some kindness, a path opened up for you, a new job opportunity, something.
Speaker B:And write it down in a card or in the notebook app on your phone and then ask, hmm, who out there needs some similar care from me now?
Speaker B:And do one act that embodies that memory, but do it for somebody else.
Speaker B:Drop off a meal, offer a ride to somebody.
Speaker B:Buy somebody lunch or a cup of coffee.
Speaker B:Email your representatives about equitable healthcare.
Speaker B:Give to a mutual aid fund like a food pantry, Maybe text a friend who's going through a rough time.
Speaker B:This is called remembering Letting yesterday's grace become today's justice.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a closing prayer here in just a minute.
Speaker B:Just a reminder that we have a great resource for you with your own daily Bible study.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:I invite you to head over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com that's where you can pick it up.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:God of the cloud and the sea.
Speaker B:Thank you for the rock that follows us for daily bread when we feel empty for water when our throats are dry for the one listening who is tired for the caregiver who can't sleep for the patient waiting on results for the heart broken by headlines.
Speaker B:Be the presence that steadies.
Speaker B:Be the humor that cracks a smile.
Speaker B:Be the strength that gets us through every hour.
Speaker B:Teach us to remember not to live in the past but to love in the present.
Speaker B:Turn our stories of rescue into acts of solidarity.
Speaker B:Let the grace we've received become just as we share.
Speaker B:Give us courage to take one step today toward a person who needs bread, towards a policy that protects life, towards a neighbor we can lift up.
Speaker B:And while you're at it, help us to keep laughing when silly things happen.
Speaker B:Let there always be hope.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely literally listener supported.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker B:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
