Episode 1136
How Is God Writing on Our Hearts Today?
The salient point of this podcast episode centers around the transformative nature of the New Covenant as articulated in Hebrews chapter 8. We delve into the profound implications of this covenant, which signifies a divine promise not merely inscribed on tablets of stone, but rather intricately woven into the very fabric of our hearts. This discussion encourages a nuanced understanding of faith, moving beyond mere belief systems to embody actions that reflect love and justice in our communities. We explore the necessity of reading Hebrews in a context that honors its Jewish roots, emphasizing that this renewed covenant is not a replacement but a continuation of God's enduring narrative. Ultimately, we invite listeners to engage with practical applications of this theology in their daily lives, fostering a spirit of mercy, accountability, and authentic connection.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the significance of the New Covenant, which promotes an interior transformation rather than merely imposing additional rules upon individuals.
- It explores the theme of Jesus as the high priest, who operates within a superior plan, thus surpassing the functions of traditional priests.
- A crucial point discussed revolves around the necessity of reading Hebrews in a manner that respects the Jewish roots of Christianity, avoiding notions of replacement theology.
- The podcast encourages actionable steps, urging listeners to embody the principles of mercy and justice in their daily lives, particularly through acts of kindness toward others.
- Listeners are prompted to reflect on their relationships, seeking opportunities for repair, thus illustrating the practical application of faith in everyday interactions.
- The episode ultimately calls for a commitment to humility, gratitude, and solidarity, particularly in relation to our Jewish neighbors and those who suffer.
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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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 lesson 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 ABC1, 23 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:Here's today's reading.
Speaker B:Reading From Hebrews chapter 8 from the Message A New Plan with Israel in essence, we have just such a high priest, authoritative right alongside God, conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God.
Speaker B:The assigned task of a high priest is to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and it's no different with the priesthood of Jesus.
Speaker B:If he were limited to earth, he wouldn't even be a priest.
Speaker B:We wouldn't need him since there are plenty of priests to offer the gifts designated in the law.
Speaker B:These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent shrine.
Speaker B:It was then that God said, be careful to do exactly as you saw it on the mountain.
Speaker B:But Jesus priestly work far surpasses what these other priests do, since he's working from a far better plan.
Speaker B:If the first plan the Old Covenant had worked out, the second wouldn't have been needed.
Speaker B:But we know the first was found wanting because God said, heads up, the days are coming when I'll set up a new plan for dealing with Israel and Judah.
Speaker B:I'll throw out the old plan I'll set up with the ancestors.
Speaker B:When I led them by the hand out of Egypt, they didn't keep their part of the bargain.
Speaker B:So I looked away and let it go.
Speaker B:The new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper.
Speaker B:It's going to be chiseled in stone.
Speaker B:This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.
Speaker B:I'll be their God.
Speaker B:They'll be my people.
Speaker B:They won't go to school to learn about me or buy a book called God and five easy lessons they'll all get to know me firsthand.
Speaker B:The little and the big, the small and the great.
Speaker B:They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven with the state of their sins forever wiped clean by coming up with a new plan A new covenant between God and the people.
Speaker B:God put the old plan on the shelf and there it stays gathering dust.
Speaker B:Wow, what a great, what an incredible reading.
Speaker B:And we're gonna just talking here about this new covenant, the new heart.
Speaker B:And how is God rewriting onto our hearts today?
Speaker B:Just we're going to really get into Hebrews or Hebrews chapter 8 here and the writer says Jesus is our high priest in the true sanctuary and talks here about this new plan, a new covenant written not in stone but on our hearts.
Speaker B:They'll all get to know me firsthand is what it says.
Speaker B:Kindly forgiven, the slate wiped clean.
Speaker B:So let's get into some points to ponder.
Speaker B:Three points to ponder about this passage today that I'd like for you to consider.
Speaker B:Point to ponder Number one.
Speaker B:The New Covenant is interior transformation for the public good.
Speaker B:The promise isn't more rules, it's a changed interior life, love and justice carved into us into our hearts.
Speaker B:A leftist and a progressive lens here as if it isn't forming us and the people who protect the vulnerable welcome the excluded and reshape unjust, unjust systems.
Speaker B:It's not the covenant at work, it's something else.
Speaker B:Heart written faith is embodied in the things that we do in real life with budgets and policies and habits that reflect mercy.
Speaker B:In the cancer community that I work with, heart written looks like showing up with meals, with visits, with rides, with presents.
Speaker B:Not platitudes, not empty talk.
Speaker B:The covenant moves from belief to practice.
Speaker B:Point to ponder number two for you to consider.
Speaker B:Read Hebrews without anti Judaism, not replacement.
Speaker B:It's about renewal, not replacement.
Speaker B:Hebrews can sound a little bit like the old is dusty and the new replaces it.
Speaker B:A faithful, humble reading remembers Jesus is a Jewish high priest and in this metaphor and the the promise of the new covenant comes from Jeremiah spoken to Israel.
Speaker B:So it's retelling of the Old Testament prophecy.
Speaker B:So Christians don't replace Judaism.
Speaker B:We're grafted into God's continuing story.
Speaker B:So we resist successionism and anti Semitism.
Speaker B:The invitation here is to deeper fidelity to God's mercy, not to somehow triumph over Jewish neighbors.
Speaker B:It's all about humility, gratitude and solidarity.
Speaker B:Point to ponder number three.
Speaker B:Jesus priesthood brings mercy close.
Speaker B:No performance is required.
Speaker B:Kindly forgiven.
Speaker B:Interesting turn of a phrase there and I just can't seem to get over that one.
Speaker B:The New Covenant doesn't dangle grace as a prize only for the holy few.
Speaker B:It delivers mercy to ordinary people in ordinary days and with ordinary clay in practice that looks like communities where confession is safe, repair is normal, shame isn't a strategy and leadership is held accountable.
Speaker B:Think of a good team.
Speaker B:Shout out to the Indiana University football Hoosiers or the Indiana Fever, some great teams that I've seen.
Speaker B:Or last year's Indiana Pacers basketball team.
Speaker B:Great, great, great teamwork where the goal is shared flourishing, not a star's brand.
Speaker B:Jesus priesthood is solidarity.
Speaker B:God with us, for us, to heal us so we can be with and for others.
Speaker B:Here's an action step heart written practice for one relationship or one system.
Speaker B:Choose one that is maybe repair a relationship.
Speaker B:Name somebody you've missed the mark with.
Speaker B:Or if you've hurt them, apologize and offer some way to offer concrete amends to them.
Speaker B:Maybe it's a makeup conversation.
Speaker B:Maybe it's doing something else, something physical that you could do to be helpful.
Speaker B:Honor boundaries, offer practical help, consider mercy and motion.
Speaker B:Support some local effort that is serving people who are hurting.
Speaker B:A mutual aid place like a clinic or a food pantry or a clothes closet or someplace that works with immigrant people who are being oppressed.
Speaker B:A cancer caregiver place or volunteer, give volunteer, advocate transparency, turn.
Speaker B:Make one place in your heart which is a stone to heart, shift.
Speaker B:It might be rearranging your budget or rearranging some sort of a policy or a safety concern you may have.
Speaker B:Or turn a value into a habit.
Speaker B:Write it down.
Speaker B:Do something about it, tell somebody about it.
Speaker B:Hold yourself accountable.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer to close things off.
Speaker B:But first of all, I just want you to know we've got a resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study.
Speaker B:Love for you to pick it up at our website, Voice of God daily.
Speaker B:Let's pray.
Speaker B:God who writes in living hearts.
Speaker B:Thank you for meeting us in our ordinary lives, in our messy calendars, on the wooded trails that we are on as we experience laughter.
Speaker B:Carve your mercy into us so we can't help but live it and how we speak, spend, vote and show up.
Speaker B:Keep us humble towards our Jewish neighbors.
Speaker B:Protect us from arrogance and every form of antisemitism.
Speaker B:Make forgiveness feel like a door we can actually walk through.
Speaker B:Kindly, steadily be close to those walking through cancer and other adversities and those who love them.
Speaker B:Give courage for treatment.
Speaker B:Days and joys to carry us through when we're tempted to perform.
Speaker B:Bring us back to presence when we stall nudges towards repair and write your love so clearly in us that others can read it as 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 listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, 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 A: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.
Speaker A:Every morning.
