Episode 1192
What If the Whole Goal of Every Conversation Was to Bring Out the Best? (Colossians 4:2-6)
The podcast provides a compelling exploration of the themes of gratitude and gracious communication through the lens of a biblical passage from Colossians. Dr. Brad Miller articulates the significance of approaching prayer not simply as a means of requesting favors from God, but as an opportunity to cultivate an awareness of the divine grace that is already present in our lives. He emphasizes the phrase 'eyes wide open in gratitude,' suggesting that true prayer involves recognizing and appreciating the myriad blessings that surround us, even in challenging circumstances.
This perspective encourages listeners to remain attuned to the beauty of their experiences and to adopt a posture of receptivity to the good that exists in the world, fostering a spirit of thankfulness and openness. The discussion further delves into the nature of conversation, wherein Dr. Miller posits that the goal of our interactions should be to uplift others rather than to engage in a battle of wits or to assert dominance. He critiques the current cultural climate, which often prioritizes competition and confrontation over understanding and empathy. Instead, he advocates for a transformative approach to communication that seeks to bring out the best in those with whom we engage. This shift not only enhances personal relationships but also contributes to the cultivation of a more respectful and compassionate society, where individuals feel valued and heard.
As the episode concludes, Dr. Miller provides actionable steps for listeners to incorporate these principles into their daily lives, urging them to consider how they can actively contribute to positive conversations. By asking oneself how to bring out the best in others, listeners are encouraged to approach their interactions with intentionality and kindness. This thoughtful examination of gratitude and communication ultimately serves as a guide for fostering deeper connections and a more meaningful existence, aligning with the podcast's mission of spreading grace and goodwill in our communities.
Takeaways:
- This episode emphasizes the importance of maintaining a posture of gratitude during prayer, encouraging listeners to remain aware of God's presence in their lives.
- We are reminded that prayer should not solely be about our own agendas, but rather about recognizing and participating in the grace that is already at work around us.
- The conversation focuses on the significance of gracious speech, advocating for dialogue that uplifts and encourages rather than diminishes or criticizes others.
- Listeners are encouraged to approach significant conversations with the intent to bring out the best in others, rather than simply seeking to be right or to win arguments.
- The podcast stresses that our communication should foster an environment where people feel valued, seen, and capable of flourishing in their lives.
- I invite you to reflect on how your conversations can reflect a spirit of kindness and understanding, thereby enriching your relationships with those around you.
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)
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.
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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 1, 2, 3 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 today from Colossians 4:2, 6 from the Message Pray for open doors.
Speaker B:Pray diligently.
Speaker B:Stay alert with your eyes wide open in gratitude.
Speaker B:Don't forget to pray for us that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ.
Speaker B:Even while I'm locked up in jail, pray that every time I open my mouth, I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
Speaker B:Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders.
Speaker B:Don't miss a trick.
Speaker B:Make the most of every opportunity.
Speaker B:Be gracious in your speech.
Speaker B:The goal is, is to bring up the best in others in a conversation.
Speaker B:Not pull them down, not cut them out.
Speaker B:Well, that ends the reading.
Speaker B:So just.
Speaker B:Let's just take a moment to reflect on the Scripture.
Speaker B:I'm glad.
Speaker B:I'm glad you're here today.
Speaker B:Um, I've been thinking a lot about conversations here recently, the kind that actually leave people feeling more whole than when they started.
Speaker B:And this short, little, short little passage we're looking at today lands right in the middle of that territory.
Speaker B:Just six verses, six short passages, but packed.
Speaker B:Let's dig into two things that really grab me here.
Speaker B:The first point to ponder is this.
Speaker B:Eyes wide open in gratitude.
Speaker B:It's right there in verse two of this very beautiful phrase I haven't been able to shake.
Speaker B:It simply says, stay alert with your eyes wide open in gratitude.
Speaker B:Now for a lot of prayerful teaching.
Speaker B:I grew up with frame prayer as kind of a spiritual escape hatch.
Speaker B:You know, close your eyes, turn out the world, focus someplace else, and look.
Speaker B:I get the value of stillness.
Speaker B:But Paul is writing this from a jail cell.
Speaker B:He's not asking for an escape.
Speaker B:He's asking for open doors.
Speaker B:He's asking for alertness, he is asking to stay present enough to recognize what God is doing right in front of him.
Speaker B:That is eyes wide open in gratitude.
Speaker B:And that's a different kind of posture.
Speaker B:My wife and I love to hike and, and you know, we love to go on wooded trails at state parks and national parks.
Speaker B:And that's one thing that kind of our happy place.
Speaker B:And hiking is something simple.
Speaker B:People who miss everything beautiful, the ones staring at their feet their whole time, you got to look up and look around the deer, the waterfall, the leaves, the trees, the light breaking through the tree canopy.
Speaker B:And you only catch that kind of stuff if you're looking for it.
Speaker B:A progressive reading of this text suggests that prayer isn't primarily about getting God to act on our own agenda.
Speaker B:It's about turning our own awareness to where grace is already moving.
Speaker B:Gratitude is the lens, our alertness is the posture.
Speaker B:And when we pray, that way we stop missing out on things.
Speaker B:In my cancer related podcast, I talk regularly with people who walking through hard seasons in life, things that life puts at them.
Speaker B:And I'll tell you, the ones who find any measure of peace tend to be the ones who have learned to stay alert to small good things, even inside brutal circumstances.
Speaker B:That isn't toxic positivity.
Speaker B:That's exactly what Paul means.
Speaker B:My eyes wide open in gratitude.
Speaker B:Here's your second point to ponder.
Speaker B:Gracious speech is not soft.
Speaker B:It's the point.
Speaker B:Now here's where this passage gets interesting.
Speaker B:Verse 6 says the golden conversation is to bring out the best in others, not pull them down, not cut them out.
Speaker B:So look at our cultural moments we're in right now and listen and learn from what's going on around us.
Speaker B:One of the things I love to do is follow my Pacers and fever and Colts, Indiana, Hoosiers.
Speaker B:But even sports commentary has become a blood sport online.
Speaker B:Lots of vicious stuff, lots of it.
Speaker B:Our default communication posture is is competitive.
Speaker B:We argue to win, we post to score points, we debate to dominate.
Speaker B:And that is that bleeds in the families, churches, cultures, dinner tables everywhere.
Speaker B:And Paul's counter proposal is striking.
Speaker B:The goal isn't to be right.
Speaker B:The goal isn't to win.
Speaker B:The goal is to bring up the best in the person across from you.
Speaker B:And that's a profound relational, deeply Jesus shaped vision of what words are for.
Speaker B:A progressive theological lens pushes us to ask what if the measure of how well we communicated isn't whether we were right, but whether a person we talked to walked away feeling more, feeling more, being seen more, more valued and more capable of flourishing.
Speaker B:My wife and I have been married for 34 years.
Speaker B:We have three great adult children, two granddaughters and I love to embarrass my granddaughters in public and but dad jokes and makes every mix them groan and but but across all those years of relationships, the conversations I regret most are the ones where I chose being right over being gracious.
Speaker B:You know, kind of the one upmanship.
Speaker B:I don't like that the ones I treasure, every single one of them left the other person feeling like they actually mattered and vice versa.
Speaker B:When someone made me feel better, made me feel valued as well.
Speaker B:That's what's really valued.
Speaker B:That is the goal.
Speaker B:Bring out the Best.
Speaker B:So here's your action step.
Speaker B:Before you enter any significant casual or any significant conversation this week, whether it's a hard one, a casual one, or even a comment section online, ask yourself one question first.
Speaker B:How can I bring out the best in this person right now?
Speaker B:Not when, not correct, not convince, just bring out the best.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a moment, but I want you to know we do have a great resource for you called the ABC 123 Bible study method.
Speaker B:You can pick it up at our website voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray God open our eyes to where grace is already moving and give us words today that build up and never tear down.
Speaker B:May our conversations look a little bit more like yours.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend.
Speaker A:I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A:Your gift goes a long way to getting the audible word of God from a progressive perspective into 2 million years.
Speaker A: A million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voice voiceofgoddaily.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 every morning.
Speaker B:Sa.
