Reading the Bible Every Day

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Bible Reading, Reading Plan, Scripture Saturday, Technology, the Bible

We live in a world that is blessed beyond measure by the amount of information that is readily available to us. Today, in 2016, there are over 40,000 searches on Google every second (http://www.internetlivestats.com/google-search-statistics/) which equates roughly 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year. We no longer need to wait for a daily newspaper, or even the regularly-scheduled news broadcasts in order to hear the latest news stories. Searches in a library’s catalog are done digitally rather than through a card catalog. We can map out our road trips online, complete with step-by-step instructions, alternate routes, estimated travel time, and indications of construction, tolls, and other things we’ll encounter along the way. There are more books in print than a person could read in a lifetime, and a wealth of audio and video content that can be accessed for free.

For Christians, we have dozens of English translations of the Bible available. We can read and listen to the complete Bible for free online. We can look up a verse or passage, change between translations, and read a complete commentary to go with it without ever opening the page of a book, much less needing to own a Bible or commentary. There are sermons by the thousands available to listen to, or watch, for free online. There are podcasts that dive into deep apologetics matters. Yet this only scratches the surface of the tools and resources that are present for a Christian in our modern, technology-driven world.

It can become easier to read what someone else has to say about a topic, to indulge ourselves in their interpretations of a Biblical book, passage, or topic. The Christian bestsellers thrive on this demand for convenience. In a world where more and more things demand our time and attention, it can be easy to rely upon audiobooks and podcasts during our commutes. None of these resources are, in and of themselves, a negative thing. We should feel blessed that we have so much information that is so readily available.

But it cannot become our only source for our daily Christian walks.

Devotionals are a great tool to inspire us to spend a little time reading in the morning or evening, yet most of them contain only a verse or two from the Bible, and almost never with the context around those verses. Hearing or reading what preachers and pastors have to say can be enlightening and inspiring, but if you do not read the Bible itself you can never be sure if they are leading you astray. There are many Christian authors being published who have no formal credentials, and many deliver powerful messages through personal experiences and interpretations, but without your own knowledge of the Bible they can also lead you down false paths and provide you with misguided impressions of what God’s Word says or means. Without reading the Bible daily, how can you ever be sure that the information you are being given is truly what God said or meant?

I know that it can be a challenge to read the Bible every day. I have faced that challenge myself and there are still days when I fail to dive into the Word of God. I have had seasons in my own Christian walk where I do not get into the Bible, convincing myself that a podcast or a book is an adequate substitute. After all, it is still touching upon God’s Word or topics from the Bible. It does not take much persuasion to get there, yet I know that this trade is like eating dry bread when one could have Manna. Like drinking well water when one could have the life-giving water that Jesus gives.

And I am not the only one who struggles with reading the Bible. According to the 2016 State of the Bible Report by the Barna Group, only ⅓ of Americans read their Bible at least once a week. One out of three will read the Word of God this week. Even worse is the small number who do so daily, which tends to fall in right around the 10-15% mark from year to year. Yet the reassuring statistic from the study is that 62% of Americans want to read the Bible more often. (http://www.americanbible.org/features/state-of-the-bible).

And there are ways to help make that happen. The first impulse might be to look up a One-Year Bible Reading Plan. After all, they tell you what to read each and every day throughout the calendar year. Yet there are two things that I dislike about these reading plans. First, they tend to begin on January 1 and, unless you begin that date, you may find it difficult to jump in somewhere in the middle of the year. Second, they jump around . . . a lot. I understand the thought behind doing a little from the Old Testament, a little from the New Testament, and a Psalm and some Proverbs. I really do. But how many people do you know that like to read multiple novels at the same time? You’ll be reading two different narratives each and every day possess entirely different timeframes. There has to be a better way of approaching reading the Bible, and how many people actually could stick to a rigorous plan long enough to succeed at reading the Bible in a year?

I believe there is a more systematic approach that a person can take to get through the Bible. It is not a race to see who can get through it fastest, nor to see if you can do it for 365 straight days (although daily reading should be the goal, we’re flawed humans and we’ll inevitably miss days along the way). Instead we should approach things in a certain order, beginning with the end. Read the New Testament first in its completion. You’ll understand about who Jesus was, his life and miracles on the Earth (Matthew-John), the beginning of the early Church (Acts), the letters passed down that are dense with Gospel messages and personal daily application (Romans-3 John), and then a glimpse at the end of this world which will lead into the coming of a New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation).

This lays the framework to go back and read through the Old Testament. You’ll have an idea of the latter events, so that when prophecies get mentioned or events happen that mirror things that will happen in Jesus’ lifetime, they will jump out and make more sense. The first five books of the Bible lay the groundwork for the fall of man (Genesis) and lead into the laws (Exodus-Deuteronomy) given to man. From there you can either follow the history of Israel from its conquest into new lands through to their exile (Joshua-Esther), jump into the Wisdom Literature (Job-Proverbs), dive into the Major Prophets (Isaiah-Daniel), or dabble in the shorter books of the Minor Prophets (Hosea-Malachi). While there is something to be said for reading them in the order they appear, because the timelines on many of the prophetic books overlap with those of the history books so knowing the chronology of the kings and other events can be helpful, it is certainly not necessary to get the main thrust of the prophecies. And while reading at least the story of David (1 & 2 Samuel) will help you to have a better grasp on Psalms, they can be read and enjoyed apart from the historical basis. So this is where the flexibility comes in, although I would recommend reading them in the full groupings rather than a book from this and then a book from that (unless you are lucky enough to possess a Chronological Bible).

    And then, after the trip through the Old Testament, a second journey through the New Testament would complete the tour. This will allow you to be able to put the things in those books into the context and reference of the Old Testament, which is a helpful thing to do. Don’t set a deadline on the journey, and don’t even try to set a goal for how much  you’ll read each time. The goal is to make some progress each day. Some days it may be 5 chapters, others it might be just 5 verses. But taking time to jump into the Word of God is important, and this will help you to set that foundation that future readings and studies can build upon.

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Top Ten Books of the Bible

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Books of the Bible, Gospel, Jesus, scripture, the Bible, Top Ten List

For this month’s top ten list, I thought it would be fun to make a list of top ten books in the Bible. These are not, by any means, the ten most impactful nor the most essential books, but rather those that I enjoy reading and, in almost every case, rereading. Of course the four Gospel books are arguably the most important books, along with Genesis and Revelation. Romans is among the most powerful in delivering a message. This list is nothing more than one Christian’s personal preference, so take it as such and know that I would welcome reading your own list! But before we jump into my list, here is a very interesting graphic by BibleGateway with the most popular books:

10. Ezra – This is probably not a book that would make many of your top ten lists, which is part of the reason why I am glad it is so high on mine. I have always enjoyed the story of the man who led his people out of Babylon, displayed dire concern for the welfare of his nation, sparked a spiritual revival, and ultimately saw the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem. In particular Chapter 9:5-15 is of note, as that is the part containing a great intercessory prayer on behalf of his nation.

9. 1 Kings – This is probably another unexpected entry, and it is all because of the story of one man: Elijah. It was a tough call between Elijah and Elisha, as both of them have excellent stories embedded in the two books of Kings. But ultimately, Elijah’s showdown with the followers of Baal at Mount Carmel just cannot be topped. Also working in the favor of the books of Kings would be the picture of how a nation’s fervor for God can ebb and flow, usually following the actions and choices of the leader. How great it is when  you come to those ones who truly sought after God, breaking down the idolatrous barriers erected by his predecessors. Some might find the book a tough read, being historical and all, but there is a lot of good stuff in here.

8. Ezekiel – It is hard to rate a book so high when I have read it only once, but it has left a lasting impression. I remember reading the book and loving the imagery contained in there, and it had a bigger impact on that first read than either Isaiah or Jeremiah. Its place has dropped over the years, mainly because I have not revisited it, but that is a problem I plan to correct this year as I am reading through each of the prophetic books. It will be interesting to see how this shifts after I get a second read completed.

7. Judges – This book reads like a series of short stories, following the lives of men and women who were called to guide Israel in the right direction prior to their demand for a king. Like the Kings of Israel, some Judges did a better job than others. And the one story in here that steals the show, every time, is Samson. Not only is it really awesome to picture one man fighting with the jawbone of a donkey, but it also serves as a great reminder that even the strongest of men have weaknesses that can humble them. And no man, however strong, is truly strong apart from the power of God.

6. 2 Timothy – One of the shorter books on the list, and the first of Paul’s epistles to grace the list. Like its predecessor, the book of 2 Timothy passes along messages regarding the importance of teaching others and being ready to preach the Gospel. This one scores high on the list primarily because it usually gets read right after I go through the first one, which is a few spots higher on this list. The message resonates with me every time, which is why the two Timothy letters are probably the most-read books in the Bible for me.

5. Titus – This placement can be summed up with two verses: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Titus 2:7-8. I love those verses, and those serve as a backbone to what I strive to do as a Christian. This is the shortest of the books on my list, and, like Timothy, has a message that really packs a powerful punch and resonates with my soul. It is now common practice for me to read this right after the Timothies.

4. John – A Gospel book arrives at last, and if you were expecting to find all four of them on this list you will be disappointed. All four of them are excellent, each one having its own unique style and merit. But while Matthew, Mark, and Luke all are centered around the actions and teachings of Jesus, John takes things to a different level and revolves around the spiritual impact of Jesus and his ministry. That is not to say that it is better than the other three, but rather the depth of the material is what makes me return to John time and time again.

3. Joshua – This is the book I often turn to when I am looking to engage in a study of manhood, leadership, and prayer. The man who had to follow in the footsteps of Moses, Joshua leads God’s people out of the wilderness and into the land promised to Abraham. But everything is far from peaceful and Joshua engages in a series of battles where he relies, time and again, on God’s power and God’s commands rather than his own (or what would make sense to us). Joshua’s prayer to stop the sun and the moon is one of the most powerful moments in the entire Bible and to know that I can tap into a fraction of that potential with the proper prayer life is enough to motivate me to draw closer to God through prayer.

2. 1 Timothy – My favorite letter of Paul and my top book in the New Testament. It is no surprise, as previous entries alluded to its presence. The practical advice, geared toward those who are called to teach as well as verse 4:12 make this one a gem among gems in the Bible. As a newer Christian, as well as moderately on the young side in age, I still hold onto 1 Timothy 4:12 as a verse to write upon my heart. I plan to instill it into the hearts of all my children some day, as well. If you haven’t read 1 Timothy in a while, do yourself a favor and dive right in. There is bound to be something there for you.

1. Job – This has been my favorite book ever since my first reading of the Bible. I have read and studied it a few times and still haven’t managed to wrap my head around the magnitude of everything in here. Many people point to the early chapters of God and Satan discussing Job, or look at this as a great book for human suffering, but it is so much more than that. There is an unending reassurance in here that God is in control. Who am I to question why this happened instead of that? Who am I to tell God what I deserve (as if that conversation could EVER go well, as we are all sinners and all deserving of the eternal torment of hell if judged by the merits of our own actions) or do not deserve? The questioning, the doubting, the agonizing all builds up to the crescendo where God steps in and takes over the discussion. And it is wonderful.

What about you? What would your top books of the Bible be? If you decide to do a post on your own blog, be sure to tag me so I can read your list as well!

Scripture Saturday: Amos Part 2

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Amos, Christian, Christianity, Prophets, Scripture Saturday, the Bible

Welcome to the second part of my reflections after reading the Book of Amos. It is chronologically the second book of the prophets found in the Old Testament, and was quite an interesting experience to really read, study, and reflect upon the meanings within the prophetic text. You can check out the post on Part 1, which deals with the content of the first four chapters in Amos. Today’s post deals with chapters 5-7.

 

God tells His nation, Israel, in the fifth chapter what they need to do: “Seek me and live” (Amos 5:5-6), and to “Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate” (Amos 5:15). God declares that He does not want their feasts held in His name, nor their animal sacrifices, nor their songs of worship (Amos 5:21-23) but rather He wants justice and righteousness (Amos 5:24) from His people. In other words, He doesn’t want them to do all these ritualistic things out of obedience. He wants them to live a life that shows an outward expression of the transformation that comes from living in alignment with God’s perspective. They need to die to themselves first, which will lead to a lasting transformation in who they are and what they aim to achieve. Worship and praise and giving only mean something if the person is doing it because their hearts are being molded and shaped by God’s love and justice and therefore they are acting in alignment with what God would want. Not because it is an obligation or a command.

The hearts of the men in Israel are further reflected in Chapter 7 by their reaction to Amos and his prophecies. They command him to flee from Israel and never prophecy there again because he said Jeroboam will die by the sword and the people will go into exile. They are unable to bear hearing those words of bad news (Amos 7:10-13) because they want only the prophets who speak good news of prosperity and growth and long-lasting rule for their king. How many churches today preach only the good news that will stimulate growth and avoid the topics that will challenge the congregation? How many walk on eggshells, trying not to offend anyone in order to maintain the number in attendance. Like Amos, we should be speaking what God commands, the things that are pleasing to God, rather than what is going to be pleasing to man.

And yet while there is plenty of doom and gloom, as well as enough punishment and condemnation to go around in there we also cannot ignore the message behind Chapter 9 in Amos. It can be easy to overlook everything preceding that chapter and fixate on this alone as the message of Amos, but that would be to do an injustice. It would be keeping the wool over our eyes and our ears stuffed with cotton so we cannot see or hear. God will certainly punish those who are deserving, both those belonging to His people and those that surround His people. We can maintain hope knowing that even if the justice God demands falls upon us today, as it did for the Israelites thousands of years ago, there could also come a time of restoration. It may be a restoration to the lands we inhabit now, or it could even be the restoration to the new heaven and new earth alluded to in Revelation (Revelation 21:1). We won’t know until the time arrives. But we know the day is coming when new crop will grow immediately after the harvest, when the mountains and the hills shall flow with sweet wine (Amos 9:13-14). This is a picture of what the Garden of Eden may have looked like, where everything was prosperous and the earth would produce in abundance without the need for back-breaking labor brought about by the sins of Adam. And God ends it by declaring that at this point that His people shall be rooted in that land and never driven away from that land again (Amos 9:15), a promise that should give us all hope for that future when it comes.

Scripture Saturday: Amos Part 1

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Amos, Prophets, Scripture Saturday, the Bible

Welcome to a Scripture Saturday. I recently read through the book of Amos, as I am slowly working my way through each of the prophetical books in chronological order. Upon completing the book I sat down to write out a summary of my thoughts, and so this is the first part of what I wrote. Stay tuned for Part 2 to come next weekend!

The book of Amos is the second of the Prophetic books in the bible, going based upon chronological order. Whereas Jonah, the first book, demonstrates God’s willingness to forgive those people who are willing to repent and turn toward God, this prophet is proclaiming more of a “doom and gloom” message like what God had wanted Jonah to spread among the people of Ninevah. The prophet Amos was a shepherd before being called by God to spread this message, which falls in line with a common theme in the Bible: God calls ordinary people to work for His glory. He could have just as easily chosen one of the two kings, Uzziah or Jeroboam, or even someone in their courts to be made a prophet for this message. The reminder that God does not need someone who is mighty, wealthy, or powerful in order to use them to further His work should provide some comfort and reassurance.

 

The early chapters of Amos can be difficult to come to terms with, as they outline the condemnation being passed upon the nations surrounding Israel and Judah at the time. Of course they should get punished for invading, pillaging, burning food stores, slaughtering men and women and children. The early impression is that God is about to do something big, to teach a lesson to those nations surrounding His chosen people. But that isn’t what happens when we get to the second chapter. God calls down punishment on Judah, one of His kingdoms, “because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray” (Amos 2:4, ESV). A quick inward reflection is all it takes to remind ourselves that we, at times, fall short of the law of the Lord. In fact, that is the whole reason why Grace, the Cross, and the crucifixion of Jesus are so essential to the core of Christianity: we can’t keep the law perfectly. All have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23) of the measuring stick that God would use when weighing our lives so, apart from Jesus, none of us can earn our way into Heaven.

 

And Israel herself does not escape judgment from God in this chapter. The people of that nation have neglected the poor, sought personal gain through wealth, have indiscriminate sexual relations, and treat religious festivals and the temples of God with disrespect (Amos 2:6-8 & 4:1). This right here is a chilling set of faults that are eerily similar to what can be seen right now in our own nation. While not every person today may be guilty of some, or even all, of those things, it was undoubtedly the same in Israel during Amos’ time: even the innocent will have to suffer for the mounting transgressions of the nation. This realization makes me perk up and want to know exactly what God has in store, as it could be a mirror to what we might have to expect some day.
We learn that God will surround Israel with an adversary who will break their walls down and plunder them (Amos 3:11). They will be captured and led away (Amos 4:2-3) to lead a life without freedom because, while they go and tithe and provide offerings, they do those with the wrong intentions in their hearts. They go around and proclaim their generous deeds (Amos 4:4-5) when they do them in order to impress the men among them, rather than giving in secret and with a heart to please God. This sounds an awful lot like some of the emptiness that Jesus scorned the Pharisees for in his day. There is hope to come for us living today in the second half of Chapter 4, though, as there is a repetition of something God did on behalf of his nation, followed by “yet you did not return to me”. The hope in there is that God didn’t give up on Israel after the first, or the second, or even the third time that the nation failed to turn back to God after he interceded on their behalf. His love runs deeper than we deserve, and even though our nation is following the same pattern of remaining turned away from God, we have not reached that point where His judgment is falling upon the nation. This point is emphasized by one word in Chapter five: lamentation (Amos 5:1). Even as God passes down the judgment, He still laments that it is necessary. He still loves His people and wants them to return to Him. He doesn’t want to strike out with vengeance and wipe them out, but to welcome them back like a nation of prodigal sons.