In this episode of the Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads Matthew 4:1–11 from The Message, reflecting on Jesus’ three wilderness temptations and what they mean for a progressive life of faith today. He explores how Jesus chooses trust over scarcity, substance over spectacle, and worship over empire, then translates these themes into practical “wilderness resistance” practices for modern life—supporting local hunger relief, cultivating quiet daily prayer, and advocating for healthcare access for marginalized people.

Key Takeaways

1. Resist the scarcity script: Like Jesus refusing to turn stones into bread for himself, listeners are invited to reject fear-based scarcity and instead trust God’s abundance by supporting just systems—food justice, fair wages, and equitable access to care.
2. Choose substance over spectacle: The temptation to “jump from the temple” becomes a warning against flashy, performative spirituality; Dr. Brad urges simple, quiet practices of presence, prayer, boundaries, and compassion over chasing attention or fame.
3. Refuse empire and domination: Jesus’ rejection of worldly kingdoms calls believers to prioritize integrity over influence, stand in solidarity with the marginalized, and refuse to let “ends justify the means” in public life and advocacy.
4. Adopt a ‘wilderness resistance’ practice: Concrete next steps include supporting local hunger-relief efforts, creating a small daily rhythm of hidden prayer, and writing at least one message to representatives advocating for healthcare access and justice.
5. Encouragement for the weary: Those overwhelmed by appointments, caregiving, grief, or pressure are reminded they are not failing but being faithful, and that “angels” often arrive as meals, rides, good news, and persistent neighbors.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. voiceofgoddaily.com

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).

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...

1. Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
2. Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
3. Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
4. A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual...