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
When will Blessings overtake me? s29e67 Dt28:1
When will blessings chase you down and overtake you?
Sometimes the answer is in the presence of my enemies.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD WILL BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF ENEMIES AND BATTLES? Exactly. sometimes enemies are required to most clearly see His hand.
The spiritual life is not lived absent conflict. It is lived absent aloneness.
Please come back tomorrow. Lord willing, I'll be here if He gives me another sunrise here.
https://youtu.be/4q8VY_3mDRc
When will Blessings overtake me? s29e67 Dt28:1
When will blessings chase you down and overtake, overwhelm you?
He’s lined up the entire nation of Israel into two camps. Every person
Obedience/rebellion. Light/dark.
Choose this day. Choose in the way that is before you. Likely the way is not the exact same way as another person
You have agency. You have consequences
. 28:1“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
I don’t think it is inappropriate to pause and think about consequences. Yes the good. Yes the bad.
What if it is true and blessings shall come upon you and over take you?
How do I get there? How do I sign up for this? Obey his voice.
What if it is true that one can be overtaken by curses?
15 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.
Both are about the VOICE of the Lord. You may say, “I don’t know what the voice of the Lord is”. First of all, that is not true. He’s given you a conscience to help guide even the non-believer. If you are serious, or at least curious, then I , Invite you to come back every day. Dt is full of the voice of God, recorded in real time by a realperson. Then head to the Gospel of John. Hear His voice, and see His actions there. Perhaps go for a walk and see a sunrise and make a response. Then head to church.
28 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before youOF NOTE, IT IS NOT THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ENEMIES. IT IS NOT THAT THEY WILL NOT RISE AGAINST YOU.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD WILL BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF ENEMIES AND BATTLES?
THE PRESENCE AND FAVOR OF THE LORD WILL BEST BE SEEN WHEN ENEMIES STAND UP. IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES,
JUST LIKE IT SAYS IN PS 23 5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies; THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS NOT LIVED ABSENT CONFLICT. IT IS LIVED ABSENT ALONENESS
It is in the presence of enemies that God’s blessings are often seen. Careful:Cancers are sometimes the best things that ever happen to people.
The presence of enemies is not a sure sign of the curse, it is a sure sign of His presenceand His activity
YES, even blessings are often best seen in the fray.
Paul was given a thorn. But he was also given a truth: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 cor 12:9 The so called prosperity Gospelis often too impoverished in that it forgets this: There are indeed enemies. Conflict. That which wars against your flesh. The fall is not far off. But His presence is near. He is the treasure. His presence is the prize.
. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8 The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 9 The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.
What if you have chosen poorly? That is in the past. Chose this day who and how you will serve Him.
What if there are consequence for choices? Then rejoice that there is a Just God who still sees you. Even those willfully went out to the dark side, He sends out in discipline go with a purpose, which is to COME BACK
The story of the prodigal son is the story of consequences and eventual good decisions.
“I could never go back” is not the right response. “I can go back now help”
THE PRESENCE AND FAVOR OF THE LORD WILL BEST BE SEEN WHEN YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR ENEMIES.
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS NOT LIVED ABSENT CONFLICT. IT IS LIVED ABSENT ALONENESS.
When will Blessings overtake me? When I obey His voice