Read Me: Daily Bible Reading
The 19th Century Scottish minister, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, (sometimes spelled McCheyne) who lived from 1813-1843, prepared a plan for Bible reading to take readers through the New Testament and Psalms twice a year, and through the rest of the Bible once each year. There are approximately 4 chapters per day in this plan.
Today I am starting a daily bible reading to help you get in the habit of reading scripture daily.
This will be done concurrently with videos from The Bible Project to further your understanding.
But this is not just an assignment. This is a way of thinking and relating to your God. Every morning I try to make sure I greet God the Father, Christ Jesus and the person of the Holy Spirit. I say good morning to them by name. Why? They are persons, Christ Jesus is a physical living human being, they desire relationship with each of us, but we resist. Just as you would not ignore your spouse or anyone else all day you cannot ignore God and Jesus.
Pick up your bible, open it and read Genesis 1:1. If you already have favorite verses you lean on for strength everyday by all means read them and read as much out of the Bible as you can.
How do we know someone’s spiritual status before God? Ask them what chapter or verse they last read out of the bible, when did they pray last or what verse do they use for strength.
If you are unable to respond to these questions you are living a dysfunctional relationship with your creator. You can claim to be a Christian but unless you know God personally its just a façade.
The goal is to help individual Christians read God’s Word faithfully.
I will be using he Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible reading plan which you can clink on to find a link. This plan takes us through the entire Bible in a year (including the New Testament and Psalms twice). There are of course many ways to read the Bible and some you can do on your cell phone.
However I would highly recommend designating a place at home and make a time even if you need to get up earlier in the morning to meditate, pray and read.
Pick up your bible and turn to Genesis 1:1 (linked to Bible Gateway-just click)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). הארץ ואת השמים את אלהים ברא בראשית Bereshith bara Elohim eth hashshamayim veeth haarets ; God in the beginning created the heavens and the earth.
In the beginning--a period of unknown antiquity in the depths of eternal past; a similar phrase is used in Proverbs 8:22 Proverbs 8:23.
God--the name of the Supreme Perfect Being, signifying in Hebrew, "Strong," "Mighty." It expresses omnipotent power; used here in the plural form, obscurely taught at the beginning of the Bible, that though God is one, yet there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead--Father, Son, and Spirit, who were engaged in the work of creation ( Proverbs 8:27 , John 1:3 John 1:10 , Ephesians 3:9 , Hebrews 1:2 , Job 26:13 ).
created--not formed from any pre-existing materials - made from nothing.
the heaven and the earth--the universe. This first verse is a generalized introduction to the entire inspired volume, declaring the great and important truth that all things had a beginning; that nothing of the cosmos or of nature existed from eternity past, originated by chance, or from the skill of any inferior agent; but that the whole universe was produced by the creative power of God ( Acts 17:24 , Romans 11:36 ).
Before the creation there was nothing, except God and there were no materials for God to work with in shaping the universe. He created all that exists out of nothing, and He sustains the universe by His own power. The Bible assumes god ‘s existence and never argues about his existence.
Look at what God has created today, this morning. Look at the sky; it proclaims the work of God’s hands. Listen to the birds and realize they testify to God’s total care. Every sunrise, every snowflake, every leaf, every drop of water in the ocean bears witness to His majesty.
Day after day they speak; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard, (Psalm 19:1-3).
God made you. He chose to bring you into being. You are unique and he has never made anyone quite like you before, and He will never make anyone like you again. His purpose in giving your life is that you should radiate a unique reflection of Jesus Christ forever as an image bearer. Think about that: The Savior came so that you would reflect the beauty of God’s holiness and live in the joy of His love as you reflect the full glory of His image forever. That is your future in Christ. So, live today in anticipation of it.