Yesterday I picked up a new bible. My last one was size 8 font, only one column, and difficult on my eyes while preaching. My new one? It’s amazing. It’s genuine leather. It’s 10.5 font, has two columns, and much better on my eyes.
Whenever I get a new bible, I just want to read it! Is that your experience with a new bible? It’s probably our experience with most new things! We like new things, but quickly forget about them. New toys at Christmas are immediately enjoyed but quickly forgotten into the New Year.
I’ve been slowly reading through J.I. Packer’s classic Knowing God and this morning in his chapter on ‘God’s Wisdom and Ours’, I was struck by this quote:
How long is it since you read right through the Bible? Do you spend as much time with the Bible each day as you do even with the newspaper? What fools some of us are! – and we remain fools all our lives, simply because we will not take the trouble to do what has to be done to receive the wisdom which is God’s free gift.
J.I. Packer – Knowing God
#Boom. The amount of time I spend reading newspapers (online) and social media significantly outweighs my time in God’s word. Australians spend an average of 1.7 hours a day on Facebook. That’s a little scary.
So I stopped reading Packer and picked up my new Bible and started reading using the Daily Lectionary Bible reading plan from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (you can read it online or follow it in the ESV app). Basically this plan enables you to read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice each year.
Are you spending deliberate time in the Bible each day?
If not, don’t wait until the New Year to make a resolution to start, do it now! Check these resources if you need help finding a plan.
I’m praying that even when my bible is no longer new, I’d know that God’s mercies are new every morning and that God would give me the attitude of the Psalmist in the stanza below to His Word.
Daleth
My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!(Psalm 119:25-32 ESV)