In just a few days a new year will start, 2024. Somehow changing one digit in the year makes us feel like there is a new beginning. Now it is 2024! 2023 is gone, it is history, and we can start fresh, to change patterns in our lives.
Depending on who you read or listen to, they will either tell you to make New Year’s resolutions or that New Year’s resolutions are not important, don’t even think about implementing them.
It might be a play on terms, but rather than a New Year’s resolution, make a commitment to read through the Bible in 2024 or a portion of the Bible. You could read the Old Testament this year and the New Testament next year.
There are a lot of different reading plans, from reading a chapter a day to reading multiple chapters a day. Talk to your pastor and ask for a reading plan. This year I am encouraging our church to read through the Old Testament. You can follow our reading plan on our website (www.fbcluverne.org).
Why should you have a structured reading plan for the Bible? First, it will give you an overview of who God is, what humanity is and the solution to our problems. Reading through the Bible allows you to see God’s promises to bless as well as to hold humanity accountable for their actions. As you read through the Bible, you will also see why the world has so many problems, as well as the solutions to all the problems.
Having a reading plan gives you a complete overview of God’s letter to humanity rather than a “pick and choose” approach. There are some parts of the Bible that are harder to read than others. The requirements of all the laws can become overwhelming, even boring at times, because we fail to understand all the background.
But if we only read what we like, we miss a significant description of the entirety of who God is in all his wonder, power, love and compassion, as well as his justice.
In 15 minutes a day, the time it takes you to sip through a cup of coffee, you can read the entire Bible in a year.
This year will you make a commitment to read through the Bible, the Old Testament, or the New Testament?