For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 (NIV)
Over the years I’ve read through the Bible many times. As a young Christian I started at Genesis and read a few chapters each day until I reached Revelation. With hindsight this was not the most appropriate way for a young Christian to read through the whole Bible. Despite this, it did give me an overall impression of Scripture that has stuck with me over the years.
I’m sure many of you are like me and find particular books in the Bible more challenging to read than others. Books like Numbers and Chronicles felt long and laborious to me. Yet even then I was surprised at how frequently, amongst a long genaeological record or list of numbers, God had provided a verse to refresh the soul.
Over the years I’ve never been tempted to re-read the Bible starting at Genesis through to Revelation. I have often read complete books at one sitting and have found this enormously useful in getting an overall understanding of the message of the book.
With the advent of technology, I have used the tools available to set myself the target of reading the complete Bible in a year. I have now done this several times and have found the YouVersion Bible app, coupled with the McCheyne reading plan gives me a good mixture of Old and New Testament readings to complete each day. A further benefit of using technology is that I tend to listen to the chapters being read, while I am reading. I like the idea that two senses are being stimulated at the same time.
I would encourage you to set yourself a target to read the Bible in a year. You will be surprised just how relevant and exciting God’s Word is to everyday situations of life. It is still as relevant today as it was when it was written.
Every blessing
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