Reading Your Bible in 2011

Many of us will start this New Year with a decision to read our Bible.  If you have never read the Bible in its entirety, I encourage you to begin this year with reading it.  Instead of just hearing other people and pastors tell you what God says, you will be able to see for yourself His very words to you.

Last year, for the first time, I read through the Bible chronologically.  

There are many Bible reading schedules that people follow, the most common being to read the Bible canonically (that is, in book order), perhaps alternating between Old Testament and New Testament passages each day.

A chronological Bible reading plan takes the reader through the pages of God’s Word in the order of the events, rather than chapter and book order.  Let me illustrate why this is another great way to read God’s Word:

• We begin with Genesis 1-22 – We are introduced to God the Creator; the seven days of Creation, Adam and Eve and the Fall of Man; Cain and Able; Noah and the world-wide flood; the Tower of Babel; and Abram called by God into the land of Canaan; Sodom & Gomorrah; Isaac is born; and God providing a ram in place of the sacrifice of Isaac.
• Then, we then read the Book of Job in the land of Uz, as that is the time when he lived.
• Then we return to Genesis 23 and continue reading.
• Later, as we are introduced to Moses in the Book of Exodus, we will then read Psalm 90, which was penned by Moses’ hand.
• When David comes on the scene, the reading will move back and forth between the events of his life, interspersed with his Psalms.
• In the time of the Kings, we read a little about the king and the events of his time, then read the words of the prophet who God was using to speak in his day.
• In the New Testament book of Acts, after reading of Paul’s visit to Ephesus, we read the Book of Ephesians; after Thessalonica the Books of Thessalonians, etc.

If you have never read your Bible through, may I encourage you to begin this year to work your way through it?  It only takes about 20 minutes a day for most people to read the entire Bible in a year.  There are many good reading schedules available, but just doing will bless and strengthen your spiritual life.  

And, perhaps like me, you will be blessed by reading chronologically this year.  I understand there are some Bibles that have been published in chronological order, but if you are like me and don’t want to spend the money for one, do an internet search for “Chronological Bible Reading Plan” and you will be able to find several websites that provide one.

Here is a link to the Chronological Bible Reading Plan from Back to the Bible.  Chronlogical Bible Reading Guide

But whatever your plan, whatever your schedule, read your Bible this year!  It will help you to grow in the Lord in 2011!