Why is it so hard to read the Bible?

What does it mean to be smitten? To be strongly attracted to someone or something.

If we listen well enough we can tell what a person is smitten with, we can tell the things that grip their heart.

Its all about what we love.

We sin because we love someone or something other than God and His word

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. Dwight L. Moody

38 times - love; 20 times - delight; 7 times - long for

What do you think the theme of this Psalm is?

Psalm 119:9–16 ESV

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:37 ESV

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Roping a calf

What are some things that might keep (drag) us from the word?

Are these things bad in an of themselves?

1 Corinthians 6:12–13 ESV

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Let’s get a little more specific about some things that will keep you from the Bible.

Laziness

We can be lazy in many ways. Physically/spiritually

The Bible is no lazy man's book! Much of its treasure, like the valuable minerals stored in the bowels of the earth, only yield up themselves to the diligent seeker.

Why do men dig for gold or other items in the ground? Would it make sense to dig for something that had no value?

Proverbs 13:4 ESV

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Busyness

Our culture works against us in this. Endless entertainment is why we don’t have time.

We make time for the things that we love.

Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

We busy ourselves with everything else sometimes because we refuse to deal with the word. It is like a mirror that reveals the ugliness of our sin.

Proverbs 2:1–5

(ESV)

My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

Boring

What’s the opposite of boring? Exciting

SO THE BIG QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO ASK IS HOW DO WE MAKE THE BIBLE COME ALIVE AND HOW DO WE MAKE OUR HEARTS LOVE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT?

WE CANT!!!

But we can ask God who can, and we can do somethings to lead our hearts in the right direction.

How would you learn to love someone else? Spend time with them, if we spend all of our time hanging around people who talk bad about them and speak negatively about that person do you think that is going to affect us?

So surrounding your self with the Word and with others who love his word, reading good books and watching good things that are going to lead us in that direction.

And we can and should persevere, knowing that it is not always going to be exciting, but it is worth it.