Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
The PURPOSE of this podcast S28e173 Jn20:30
If you toss a ball to a two year old, for about a million times it will bounce off his head. Then on a magical day, he'll grab it an hold on.
Let's get to the meat of this podcast: Belief. John is asking you to grab on and hold on. Listen. Grab on. believe. Hold on.
https://youtu.be/MjSVc2Gytl4
The PURPOSE of this podcast S28e173 Jn20:30
Gotta love the author John. As a writer, he begins with his end in mind, and then, at the end, he reminds us of what he has been saying from the beginning. Writes with purpose. To change the world. Your world
The Purpose of This Book John 20:
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
One word: believe.
WHAT is Belief?
Think to be TRUE;
act as if it is permanent;
commit to it; Trust; put confidence in; rely upon; entrust oneself;
Prove it to be strong;
We criticized “Doubting Thomas” for his DURABLE UNBELIEF
John calls us to just the opposite: durable, strong, resilient BELIEF.
This belief is something you can put your weight upon
For the present, and for a lifetime of relying.
Why believe?
Jesus did many signs. Wonders. Miracles. John records only 8. Other Gospels 38. Why not include them all? Because if you don’t believe after 1 or 2 or 6, you aren’t going to be moved off your position with the 27th.
His account is not primarily a history book, though the history he records is detailed and accurate. It is not a diary of daily events. It is ultimately a call to believe and a challenge to believe.
Point is, sit in the miracles. They are either historic or made up.
If they are historic, then a response is required…belief
When to believe?
We just heard the great story of the 9th miracle of Jesus, the saving of the theif on the cross who snuck in at the last second. Jesus blessed his life for the hour or two or 4 that he had left. He sat in the truth of what Jesus promised him: TODAY, you will be with me in PARADISE. He lived with that promise, he died with that promise for just a few hours.
So here’s the teaching point: if you are an unbeliever on your deathbed,believe&sneak into the kingdom.Nothing would please him more
If you are an 8 year old child, BELIEVE today. Why? because you might have 80 more years here with HIM. Eternal life, Paradise, as defined for the thief is this: WITH ME. Paradise is with me. Elsewhere, ABUNDANT,life is WITH ME. There is a reason this podcast is BE WITH ME. Ultimately, HE alone is your great reward. He is the prize. A relationship with Him is the TREASURE. Wouldn’t you want the riches, the wisdom, the protection, the association with His people, the joy of ongoing discovery for 80 years rather than 80 minutes?
How long would you want this abundant life? As long as possible.
HAVING LIFE IN HIS NAME = NOW, and also THEN, in relation to Him.
HOW TO BELIEVE
Receive himJohn 1:12 12 to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Thinking this am about children 2-3 years old something happens. A light bulb goes on. If you gently toss a ball to a child, for years, it just bounce off his HEAD. Then on a magic day, in a charmed moment, you toss a ball to this child and he CATCHES it. He grabs ahold of what was thrown at him. He receives it for himself.
Similarly, I am asking you to stop having spiritual truths bounce off your forehead. This is your wake up moment. Your action moment. He’s done His work. He’s been calling. He’s been helping. He’s been assisting. He’s been moving great spiritual impediments that make it impossible without His help. And now, bends down on one knee. He gets on your level, He gently tosses the ball to you for the millionth time.
Here is what John is asking you to do. Here is what I am asking you to do. Here is what Jesus is asking you to do: reach out and catch it. Grabahold. Remebmer the women running to the disciples after seeing the angels at the tomb. Jesus appears. What do they do? Fall down, hold on.
Perhaps today is the day when you”get it”. Don’t wait for tomorrow.
Grab ahold. Agree that it is true. Don’t let go. Let the permanence of your commitment start today. Put your confidence in Him. Then prove it over this hour, this day, this year. Catch it. Make it durable belief. Catch the ball. Hold on. :Believe!