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
What should I do with the Bible? S30e68 Ps119:105
We all get to decide how inclined or not inclined we set our heart towards the Bible. Ps119 instructs us to deal with the Bible by inclining our hearts toward it.
We do this
- demonstratively: that is, with our affections, and love
- directionally: we allow the Word to help change our direction
- desperately: if there were any other plan b, we wouldn't have to throw ourselves so desperately upon Him. But there is not. We MUST so incline our hearts.
So let's lean into Him as we are confronted with the Bible. Let's close the distance.
https://youtu.be/dACX7Cjt-mQ
What should I do with the Bible? S30e68 Ps119:105
What should I do with the Word? Is it of effect? Is it of worth? Is it trustworthy? Is it valuable for this life? Is it actionable? Let’s use other people’s past, to form our future.
Here’s the big princlple: What should I do with the Bible? 1 answer:
INCLINE MY HEART to Your Word.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
Conclusions Is your heart INCLINED toward the Bible?
Here’s the Bible: am I inclined toward it.
Set the ramp down TO it, rather than FROM it.
Make the inclined plane to CLOSE the distance
My heart has a volition, an action, an agency of inclination or not.
What should I do with the Bible?
Ps 119 v112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
The psalmist has a NORTH STAR that he is oriented towards
Oriented towards demonstratively I love your law . I love it and I am going to say so! Remind myself a little bit. OH yeah, you have done this for me. Oh yeah, you are worth of trust into the future. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
Oriented towards directionally this word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path. Earlier part of 119 walk in his ways turn my feet
Oriented towards desperately. Situations spoken here
I am severely afflicted; I hold my life in my hand;
The wicked have laid a snare;
You mean to tell me that the closeness of the Lord can be directely related to the closeness of difficutities, enemies, and even death?
Have you ever noticed, that often times those in the most difficulty are often enjoying an enviable closeness with the Lord?
those who frankly are suffering the deepest bear the fruits of intimacy;
Martin Lloyd Jones Do not pray for healing.
Do not hold me back from the glory Martin Lloyd Jones
Just in this stanza we see an inclined heart demonstratively, directionally and desperately
Conclusions Is your heart INCLINED toward the Bible?
Conclusions Is your heart INCLINED toward the Bible?
Demonstratively: affection. Passion. When you think of the Lord is it with warmth. This is a Spiritual Person that I long for with fondness. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
LORD GROW MY PASSION AND FONDNESS AND WARMTH WITH YOU. I CANT WAIT FOF YOU TO SHOW UP THIS MORNING AND TOMORROW AMGrow my affections and love and Joy for You and Your word..
Is you heart INCLINED toward the Bible Directionally105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
107give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108teach me your rules. 109 I do not forget your law. 110 I do not stray from your precepts.
LORD MAY YOUR WORD BE THE LAMP TO MY FEET. MAY THE BIBLE AND IT’S TREASURES BE THE LIGHT TO MY PATH. Incline me, and move me to incline myself toward your Word. According to your word . Guardme from evil, and do not let me STRAY from your precepts. Help me to remember this lesson about INCLINING my heart toward you.
Is Your heart inclined toward the Bible DESPERATELY?
The spiritual walk is not for sissies.
There are difficulties, sicknesses, injuries, wounds.
There discipline of the Lord. And This Is from a loving God that means for me GOOD but still doesn’t feel all that great.
Then, There are the direct wounds from enemies that mean me harm
107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
Brothers and Sisters: do not waste your affliction. Do not waste your cancer, your conflict, your enemies that mean you actual harm.
Thru all this…I incline my heart.
Thru my wounds…I incline my heart
What should I do with the Bible? Incline my heart toward it.
Let it serve me in Demonstratively: warmth, affection love
direction. Be a lamp to my feet a light to my path Turn my feet towards
Desperately: Lord where else can we go? In affliction. When I hold my life in my hand and when wickedness is all around me.
Lord, We desperately seek you. INCLINE OUR HEARTS TO YOU.