Well the first 2 months of the year have passed and I wanted to give you an update on my reading of the Bible. At first I was going to try to read through the Bible in a year. I had this figured out that I all I had to do was read just over 3 chapters a day. That turned into; well do I really need to read it through in a year? As long as I read the Bible through that will work. So I improvised into reading 3 chapters a day on Mondays-Fridays and no reading on the weekends. So that has been my plan up to this point.
But why should I read at all? I thought like a lot of others: I'm a busy person with a lot to do. Why should I spend time reading the Bible? I don't have time to do all I need to do as it is. I already believe in Jesus Christ. I've already heard the Gospel. Why should I read the Bible?
There are many scriptures that tell us why we should.
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And there are many more verses that point us why we should read. But the whole key is: To know God better you must spend time hearing what He has to say. The Bible is His message to you. If you want Him to listen to what you have to say, you should also listen to what He has to say.
Although God can also speak directly to your heart, you need to know His written Word so you can judge whether God is speaking to you, or the enemy is trying to deceive you.
God will not love you more because you read the Bible. It's for your benefit -- not required to make God love you. However, without reading the Bible, you will not grow spiritually, and you will be more easily deceived.
Prayerfully reading the Scriptures yourself is the only real defense against being misled.
Alright, so back around the first of the year I started with Genesis and I am now in the book of Leviticus and am caught up with my reading plan. All well and good, right? Well let me tell you what happened over this week.
I am also involved in a men’s breakfast group that meets on Saturday mornings and one of the guys brought us a book to read. [Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes] So I am reading the chapter on Discipline of Mind and one section is on US Army Lt. General William K. Harrison, Jr. This was a man that when he was a cadet at West Point and 20 years old, he began reading the Bible. His plan was to read through the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament 4 times in one year!
Wow, this really got me thinking about me trying to read the Bible through once! Not only did General Harrison accomplish this goal, but did it every year for, get this, 70 years! That’s 70 times through the Old Testament and 280 times through the New.
His mind was programmed by God, not by TV, not by fiction books, not by anything in this world, but by God. He made decisions based upon his education and experience. How much influence did God have in his life? I’m not sure, but I want that kind of influence, I want that kind of knowledge, and I want that kind of mind!
So now I am rethinking my reading plan to the point to follow the Generals plan. That’s reading 3 chapters in the Old and New Testaments each day. About thirty minutes each day. Sounds simple right? Stay tuned, I am going to give it a go.
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