I have never made a new year’s resolution and I must confess I haven’t made one this year either. However, my “children” bought me a book for my birthday called “For the love of God” which is a book to help Christians read all the bible in a set time.
It gives readings (about four chapters) for each day so that the Old Testament can be read once and the New Testament and Psalms read twice in a one year cycle. Alternatively you can take two years, and it also offers a one page commentary on one of the chapters set aside for the day. So far so good!
What I like about the book is the way it encourages me to be more disciplined about reading the bible in a systematic way. There are many different ways to read God’s word. We can start at Genesis and keep reading, or we can read it in chronological order. Some people prefer to concentrate on particular themes or stories, whilst others will look for a more general picture of God’s plan for the world.
What is more important of course is that we read the bible regularly. The bible gives us guidance on how to live our lives and the more we know it, the better we will understand how we should live! After all, we would never think of baking a cake without checking the recipe, or going on a long drive without checking out the route. So why go through life without reading the guide book? Of course, we can “gamble” and have a go without guidance, and sometimes it will work but often it will not.
So could I encourage you to make time every day to read a portion of Scripture. Allow our God to speak to us, and as we read and learn his word let his Spirit guide us as he reminds us in our conscience what we have already read. And if it helps, seek out a daily reading guide to make it easier for you.
Remember, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful forteaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
God bless.
Adam