One of
the most important Spiritual Disciplines is to maintain a steady intake of the
Word of God. Many believers have intentions to read their Bible but do not have
a plan. As a result, they are hit and miss with more misses than hits.
Last
year, as I was planning my disciplines for the coming year, My wife and I had
the good fortune of spending a weekend with Steve and Donna Gaines in Memphis.
That Sunday, Bellevue Baptist Church distributed an outline of how a person
might read through the New Testament in a month. I have incorporated that
discipline in my own schedule. Should you get more than three days behind due
to unforeseen circumstances, I encourage you to skip those passages and simply
pick up on the day's assigned reading. I know of people who get behind and just
give up. Don't let that happen to you. Each number corresponds with the day of
the month. Here is the outline that I use each day:
1. Matthew 1-8
2. Matthew 9-15
3. Matthew 16-23
4. Matthew 24-28
5. Mark 1-7
6. Mark 8-13
7. Mark 14- Luke 2
8. Luke 3-8
9. Luke 9-13
10. Luke 14-21
11. Luke 22- John 2
12. John 3-8
13. John 9-15
14. John 16- Acts 1
15. Acts 2-8
16. Acts 9-15
17. Acts 16-21
18. Acts 22- Romans 1
19. Romans 2-10
20. Romans 11- 1 Corinthians 6
21. 1 Corinthians 7-15
22. 1 Corinthians 16- 2 Corinthians 12
23. 2 Corinthians 13- Ephesians 4
24. Ephesians 5- Colossians 4
25. 1 Thessalonians 1- 1 Timothy 6
26. 2 Timothy 1- Hebrews 6
27. Hebrews 7- James 2
28. James 3- 1 John 1
29. 1 John 2- Revelation 4
30. Revelation 5-22
If you
will accept the challenge to read a significant portion of the New Testament on
a daily basis, it will strengthen your walk with the Lord. Here is a plan that
will work if you will make it a priority. My habit is not to read anything else
including looking at my iPhone or iPad until after I have spent time in the
Word. Remember, we do what we plan, prioritize, and practice. There is a reward
for those who put the Lord first.
This is great--none of these passages are so long that we could not read one by simply giving up a half hour or so of television each evening, or half an hour or so on the internet. The reward is eternal, while the other things are ephemeral. Thank you Jerry!
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