Well, January first is no longer around the corner… it has rounded the bend and is well along the straightaway ready to make the next turn to January 2… Rather than make a list of resolutions, I thought I’d offer one simple suggestion, just in case you haven’t decided to do it already: read your Bible this year!

The phrase that I continually hear in Christian circles revolves around “I really should read the Bible more.” Well, here’s your chance! And unlike a membership at the gym, you don’t have to get all sweaty to do it (unless stepping into the presence of the creator of the universe who knows everything about you is something that will make you sweat!)

Maybe you’ve never read the Bible before… Maybe you’ve never read a single book of the Bible from start to finish. I’ve written an earlier article which discusses the different translations, but any Bible will do, just pick it up and read!

I’ve posted a yearly Bible reading plan on my churchs’ website that should take about 10-15 minutes/day and it’s crazy-simple… Just cut out the four bookmarks, and read the four suggested passages for each day. If you want to only take only half the time every day and read the Bible through in two years instead of one just use two bookmarks instead of four, and then use the second pair next year! There’s no wrong way to do it, so just do it!

Reading the Bible is God’s talking to you. Your daily prayer life is your talking to God. Done together, you begin to have a dialog. If you only talk to God but don’t listen, you’re lecturing. If you do nothing by listen but don’t respond you’re being lectured to. Neither is conducive to a healthy relationship, in human or divine relationships.

Don’t know what to pray for or about? Pray about that! Don’t know what a particular passage of Scripture says or means? Look it up on one of the popular Bible commentary sites, Google the passage, or hey, ask it here! Someone reading this blog will have the answer or at least point you in the right direction.

Let me know if you are going to commit to read the Bible in a year. You can start any time – it doesn’t have to be January. Just read, learn, and listen what God has to say to you. God Himself tells you why you should:

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

So, let’s get started, shall we? I have 3 hours left to read my 4 passages… God Bless, keep in touch, and I’ll see you on the road ahead…

-Anthony