Friday is for Heart Songs
“The average person reads 200 to 250 words per minute; there are about 775,000 words in the Bible;
therefore it takes less than 10 minutes a day to read the whole Bible in a year.”
( Justin Taylor)
Our church is reading the Bible through this year, with everyone using the same Bible reading plan. Last year we encouraged the whole congregation with multiple plan options but we decided to go with the YouVersion “EAT THIS BOOK” plan for 2014. We are only three days in so its not to late to join us in the adventure.
For those of who are Bible reading virgins, there are some helpful videos (4-6 minute videos), available through links on our website that give overviews of the sections that you will be reading at the start of each week. Right now the links for the month of January are up and running. [The videos themselves were produced by the staff of Black Hawk Church in Wisconsin, the originator of the EAT THIS BOOK plan.]
I don’t know how many times I have read the Bible through, more than 30, less than 50. But every time I do, my life is changed for the better. Here’s ten other things that happen.
- I see things I never saw before.
- I make connections between books I never saw before.
- The Spirit of God, throughout the year, brings me to the perfect text for some thorny problem I am struggling with at the perfect time.
- My worship of God is deepened as I see his sovereign hand at work over time in the nation of Israel.
- I have some old questions answered and …
- I have some new confusions created.
- My faith grows stronger.
- My love for God grows deeper.
- My commitment to living sacrificially for others is challenged, informed and empowered.
- My desire to read the Bible through again increases.
Marty, thank you for offering this plan to the people of God. I am very excited to get back into God’s Word for another year. Trinity is so very Blessed to have you as their leader. God Bless!
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One more thing, I am curious as to what it means to “Eat This Book?” I know it must mean something. Thank You!
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Read Ezekiel 1-3. Examine the context. When you come to a text that says “eat this scroll” ask yourself what is going on. What is God trying to convey?
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Also have read through the Bible many times. I have read at least eight translations; this has given me greater awareness of different approaches to the text. Reading the Bible in its entirety really aids understanding of New Testament allusions to the Old Testament and helps avoid misinterpretation.
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