Read the Bible FOR a Year, BUT DON'T
read the Bible IN a Year
As Christians, we believe the Bible is The Word of God. It is God’s
word to us. Most churches state in their creed that the Bible is their standard
for faith and morals. Paul writes to Timothy that the Bible is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
(2Timothy 3:16 KJV)
The
“man of God” that Paul refers to is firstly, one who is a minister to God’s
people; and, secondly, anyone who wants to follow the Lord. We are all to be
completely “furnished unto all good works.” The Bible gives us the necessary
instructions for how to do that.
Being
able to read the Bible for one’s own pleasure, profit, and growth is a
privilege we relinquish at great peril. Yet, there are many today (2007) who no
longer take the time to read the Book of Books. Of those who do, precious few
know how to read with understanding. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is able to
overcome our ignorance if our heart is pure. (Matt. 5:8)
We
should study the Bible for at least three reasons:
1. To know what it says
2. To know what it says about Jesus
3. To know what it says to me.
The
first reason is simply to become familiar with the text itself. There are 66
books in the Bible, and each one of them was written for a different purpose.
Some contain historical data; others contain wisdom sayings, others contain
prophetic utterances. However, every single one of the 66 books has something
to say about Jesus, either prophetically or historically.
The
second reason takes us beyond the mere reading of the words on the pages. It
requires understanding to know how the particular book relates to anything
about Jesus. Often, that understanding can only come from someone helping us to
understand. (See Acts 8:30-31)
Thirdly,
we should study the Bible to know what God says to each of us. It is more
important to know what God is saying to me than it is to know what God
is saying about others. Yet, this is the most common outcome of Bible
study today—using the Bible to prove that so-and-so shouldn’t be doing
such-and-such.
God
has something important to say to you today. One of the ways He will do
that is through your continual reading and application of His Word.
In
the same way that Phillip asked the Ethiopian, “Do you understand what you
read?”, so I ask you, “Do you understand what you read?”
How to Read the Bible
This may seem like a ridiculous waste of time for your
consideration. That may very well
be. However, in my experience with thousands of believers over the years, I
have found that this is a necessary instruction.
Many
new believers have tried to fulfill the injunction to read their Bible in a
year. Most fall short and quit somewhere at the ‘begats’
of Genesis. They come to me or their pastor and say, “I can’t understand the
Bible.”
Of
course not!
Would
it not be better to put people on the course Jesus described in John 8:31-32? Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then
are you my disciples indeed;
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Where
do we find the words of Jesus? They are in the New Testament. Genesis is not in
the New Testament. The words of Jesus are in the Gospels. The Apostle Paul did
not write any of the Gospels. He wrote epistles (letters) to the various
churches with whom he was related. He gave good instruction, but these do not
contain the words of Jesus.
If
we are to continue in HIS word,
then it is necessary that we know the words He spoke. Yes, there is a place for
understanding that the entire Bible is His Word; but that is not the beginning
place for us.
The
first thing one should do is to become intimately familiar with the Gospels. By
“intimately familiar” I mean that you should be able to “think your way
through” an entire gospel. You should be able to recall the major events and
teachings in any section of the gospel that you are learning.
How
do you get to that place of knowledge? Read. Read. Read. And
then read some more.
When
the Lord was first calling me into the ministry, I was reading the Gospel of
Matthew every day all day, sometimes 4 or 5 times a day. I was not doing much
study at this time. I was reading and becoming familiar with what Jesus taught.
When
I would be called on to teach during this time, I would teach from Matthew.
Yet, our ministry grew. People were being added to the Lord on a regular basis.
I did not teach from the whole Bible on a particular theme. The Lord would use
what I was learning from my reading of Matthew to minister to the needs of His
people.
And
the Lord was ministering to me from Matthew, causing me to grow.
The
Lord will do the same for you and anyone who will take the time to completely
immerse themselves in the Word.
Think
about what I just said.
Immerse
yourself in the Word.
Yet,
I am not suggesting that you need to read the entire Bible. But, I am
suggesting that you read. A lot.
Then,
after you become familiar with at least one of the Gospels, read the remaining
three. I would suggest that you read each one at least three times before
moving on to the next Gospel.
Next, read Acts to learn how a group of men who
followed the Lord’s teachings turned the world upside down.
Paul’s
letters to these churches were written to correct early error that was creeping
into the churches and to let believers know who they are in Christ. These are
magnificent writings that any believer would do well to devour much the same as
the Gospels.
Become
very familiar with these letters.
Now,
depending on how much time you spend reading each day, you have probably been
reading almost a year; and while you have not read anything from the Old
Testament, you are becoming so familiar with the New Testament that your life
is changing. And you haven’t even tried to change
anything!! It just happened.
This
is the power of the Word. (Heb. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:13;
1 Peter 2:2)
You
will eventually get to the rest of the Bible, but for now just try to learn
what God is saying to you about how you should live. He will use His Word to
minister to you if you will “hide it in your heart.” (Psalms 119:11)
Now
go back and read the Gospels again.
Then
read the General Epistles (James – Jude). Next, try to make your way through
Hebrews just once. Now, go back and read the Gospel that you are thinking your
way through.
You
are now ready to tackle Paul’s ‘Summa Theologica’,
his great theology contained in the Epistle to the Romans. Read it without
judging it or trying to apply any of his thoughts to your life. What I mean is
to read it quickly the first time. This is a book that you need to become
familiar with much like your chosen Gospel.
Resist
the temptation to get a commentary for this book. Wait. Wait until you are
developing a little of your own ‘theology’ before you begin to try to
understand another’s.
After
you have spent some time with Romans, go back and read your chosen Gospel again.
Now
read the remaining epistles, but not Hebrews. Save this book for last as one to
read slowly. Hebrews shows how the entire OT speaks to us of Jesus and will
prepare you for any perusal of this section of the Bible.
There
you have it. A Bible reading plan that does not get you
through the Bible in a year. In fact, depending on the speed with which
you read, it may take you two years to do just this much. You haven't even gone
into the Old Testament yet.
I
promise you, that if you will do this, your life will
not be the same. You will be much further along in your growth than those who
insist on reading the Bible through in a year.
The
Lord is after the quality of a changed life, not how many words one can read in
a year. Quality—not quantity. That is the
Lord’s desire. Make it your desire also.
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