One of the very best disciplines any Christian can introduce into his or her daily routine is to simply begin reading through the Bible over the whole course of the year. There are innumerable good plans to help us accomplish this--over the years I've variously used the systems devised by M'Cheyne, Spurgeon, or Trottman.
But, my favorite for some time now has been the Read Through the Bible plan from Crossway Books--the publishers of the English Standard Version (ESV). The plan is available in tract form to slip right into your Bible or to serve as a place marker--but amazingly, it is also available in a wide range of high tech tools online, for your phone or PDA, via e-mail, or through RSS syndication. It is even available in an automated calendar program for your iCal or Google agendas--and of course, if you use it in iCal, the plan will synch immediately to your iPhone as well.
Other plans utilizing the ESV, including a chronological read-through, a daily lectionary, M'Cheyne's, and a daily Psalms, Proverbs, OT, NT selection, are available at the resource-rich ESV site.
No excuses! All are available for free--like the Word of God itself. All we must do is avail ourselves of this marvelous means of grace.
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and is 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 (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
“The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…The sum of Your Word is truth, and everyone of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting" (Psalm 119: 105; 160)
"All His precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness" (Psalm 111:7-8).
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep my Word" (John 14: 23-24).
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes" (Psalm 119:9-12).
"His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God shall stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
4 comments:
Here's an even better page from the ESV:
http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans
They've grouped their various plans (8 total) and organized them in a chart with the various delivery methods (web, email, RSS, print-out).
Wow, that is a long way from my worn copy of M'Cheyne's plan.
Thanks, Dr. Grant, for this challenge. I have used M'Cheyne's plan before, but was happy to discover the Crossway reading plan in the back of my Journaling Bible.
Good recommendation. I do like the ESV... though my new favorite is my copy of the 1560 Geneva Bible. Wif yt, Thou culdst rede the Bible in one yere, providid thou culdst figoure ovt the fpelling.
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