Getting started on a Bible Reading Plan

As you are probably aware, we have just started a church-wide Bible-Reading plan this week (we're using one from the Discipleship Journal). If you’d like to download and print it, you can do so directly here: http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf

As we embark on reading the Bible together this year, although our goal is to read the Bible each day, we want to do so in dependence on the grace of God knowing that we may not actually read His Word as consistently as we would like, even when we try.

Please do not become discouraged and give up though – what matters to the Lord is not checking off the daily reading box, but that we come to Him in humble dependence, looking to be fed, nourished and refreshed by Him.

Be aware, as with any Bible reading or devotional plan, there can be a temptation to legalism or pride, as if our doing the plan faithfully impresses God or in some way means that we’re being “good Christians”. God is impressed with those who come to Him contrite and in humble dependence on Him.

On the other hand, do not feel like you have to go back and re-read the days you miss as if you cannot keep pressing forward without doing so. If you miss days, I would encourage you to either press on, skip that day and just read the next day so you can keep current with your family or caregroup (preferable – so that you can experience fellowship/discussion about the Bible with others more easily) or just read the plan acting as if you didn’t miss a thing and read whatever verses are next, no matter how long it has been.

There is a great temptation to feel overwhelmed when embarking on such a plan - especially if we miss a lot of days and we feel like we are so far behind that we cannot continue. Please do not fall into this trap. If you miss days – approach each day as a fresh start and remember that what matters is whether you are reading God’s Word – not whether you perfectly follow a plan or read every verse sequentially. No matter how many verses or books you skip, you can be sure that God will be faithful to use His Word in your life whenever you read it and whatever passage you happen to be reading.

Remember that God is not angry with His children when we don’t read the Bible and He isn’t thinking less of us if we miss checking the boxes – no, He just longs for us to come to Him and He meets us, leads us, guides us and refreshes us when we do so humbly.

So, if you haven’t started reading – let me encourage you to start on day 3 tomorrow…

God’s Word is sweeter than honey, more valuable than the greatest treasure, it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and it can make even the most simple wise – let this encourage and motivate us to read His Word and feast on His goodness found therein.

-Matt

Working Out?

I recently was convicted that I had not been a good steward of the “temple” that God has given me. I had been eating in an unhealthy manner and not exercising – thus neglecting to care for the physical gift of my body that God has given me to carry out His purposes. Such neglect can be sinful (or reveal sin in my heart) and practically, will have an effect on my physical ability to obey the Lord in carrying out the roles He has called me to.

So, in response to new-found conviction, I changed the way I eat and bought a used piece of exercise equipment. It looks good in the garage too. But now, I must begin the process of making intentional changes to my schedule and start using the equipment if I want to benefit from it. As it turns out, conviction is a good thing but apparently, I have to put what I have to work if I want to see actual results.

Often we can be poor stewards of the minds that the Lord has given us too. This neglect not only reveals potential areas of sin, but it will also have a definite effect on our ability to live the Christian life and carry out our Biblical roles...

Aside from daily intake of the Bible, prayer, worship and sound teaching, I cannot recommend more highly the discipline of reading great books. In doing so though, I must first ask if you are reading and meditating on God’s Word daily, with the specific goal of hearing from God and applying His Word to your life. If you are not working out in this area, I’d encourage you to stop reading this post and go read your Bible instead – you’ll get way more out of it.

If, however, you have begun to develop your practice of daily Bible intake and application, I would encourage you to purchase some additional exercise equipment for your mind and soul. Get good books. You don’t have to look for the “uber-bender-lifter-3000” though; I’d encourage you to start with the basics. Start with one good book and when you’ve read it and sought to apply it to your life, move on to another and then go and re-read them.

In doing so, it is important that you begin with books that help expound the timeless truths that the Bible contains and stay with books that stay close to the Bible. And then, it is critical that you don’t just get books – read them. After all, they may look good on your shelf but they won’t do any good if you don’t put them to work practically.

In my next post, I’ll make some specific recommendations for your reading…