New Year's Resolution

     It's that time of year again already, and in spite of my dread of the cliche' of New Year "resolutions" I will offer a proposal to you, with perhaps a little challenge.
     Founding Father and second president of the United States John Adams made it a practice of reading through the Bible every year, often reading through the New Testament in the original Greek. He was not alone in this, it was generally accepted that all educated men would do this, and many of the founding fathers wrote of their habit of Bible reading.
     In contrast to that, we have modern America which holds the enviable position of highest per capita Bible ownership, while untold millions of Bibles sit on shelves and in closets collecting dust.
     Let me interject here-- I am not in the least trying to make anyone feel guilty. I can only wish for the years I have wasted in other pursuits instead of quality time getting to know God through His Word.

     So what will be our plan? Well, I can tell you one that will not work. At least, I have never heard of it working for anyone. People always tell me, "I decided to start at the beginning of the Bible and read through." When they got to the "begats" it all started going downhill. Me too.

Here are some suggestions:

     Buy a One Year Bible
This Bible contains a daily entry with a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and two Proverbs.

     Do a Google search.
Try "Bible reading plan" or "read through the Bible".
     There are also many options online:

• You can download a free program to keep track of your reading on your computer.
• You can also download a widget for your desktop that tells you the reading for the day.
• Many sites offer daily "through the Bible" reading selections online.
• Others offer a Through the Bible in One Year scripture selection guide you can print out and keep in your Bible.

     One of my favorites is to read through the New Testament. Amazing as it may seem you can easily read through the New Testament in one month. By doing this you can avoid the lengthy geneologies, repeated histories and endless pronouncements of the Law. By the time (10 days) you have finished the gospels it is like having read the same biography 4 times. Talk about getting familliar with a story! More than this, it is in the New Testament we find out what "Christianity" is all about. It is the New Testament which reveals the Gospel to us. It is also the New Testament which shows us how to live as "the Body of Christ."

     Another quick search tells us "the Bible contains everything we need for, "living, salvation, faith and practice, life and godliness. . . So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:17)

     My personal recommendation to you is to set a bookmark for the ESV Daily Reading Bible. Simply go to your computer, clink on the link, and read your selection for the day.

Some final tips:
     Reading through the Bible on this plan will take you 20 to 30 minutes a day. Be sure to set yourself this much time.
     If you find yourself where you don't have the needed time, read just the New Testament portion of the reading.
     If you miss a day (or several) DO NOT go back and try to catch up. Read that day's selection and keep on. At the end of the year you will have "read through the Bible" anyway. Nobody will say, "Oh but you missed a day," and next year you will catch that missed section. Right?

     Make this challenge to yourself and expect to be pleasantly surprised and wonderfully blessed.

     Happy New Year!