Do you have time to read the Bible? I used to think I didn’t. Then I realized I was the guy who had time to read the paper from front to back, The Sporting News, Forbes, etc. in addition to various books.
And I realized I would look rather foolish if someone said, “You’re a Christian, right? And you have never read the Bible?!”
I was convicted that I really needed to read the Book. Once I started I realized how much I had been missing.
Of course, reading the Bible isn’t what saves us. It is just a logical thing for Christians to do. There are endless benefits. God uses it to transform our minds, to know him more, to shape us, help us to sin less, and more. It contains the words of life.
Sometimes people are intimidated by it because it seems like one big book. But many of the books are not very long. Twenty-seven of the sixty-six books of the Bible are seven chapters or less. I’ve been listening to Philippians on my iPod and all four chapters last a total of 16 minutes.
I use MP3 files from Faith Comes by Hearing. They currently have free downloads of the whole New Testament. Check ‘em out! You can put them on your MP3 player or make CD’s of them. Listen to the word in your car. These are very well done, by the way. I bought them years ago and have used them extensively.
If you haven’t been reading it, try just a chapter a day. You can read it and reflect on it in 10 minutes.
Filed under: Bible, Christian living | Tagged: Bible, Bible study, christianity, God, Jesus, religion
Such a worthy post.
We forget our devotions as well as praying sometimes.
How does this happen?
We get caught up in the MANY distractions of our day.
Reminds me of a simple little story out of the book “A Secret in the Maple Tree”
The little girl always went to her Maple tree to talk to God. This was many years ago.
One day at school, they learned the Cakewalk.
Suddenly she was all consumed who would be her partner. She spent so much time considering all the activity surrounded the Cakewalk at school, after a few trials, she realized, that the Cakewalk interfered with her time with God.
She had forgotten to go to her Maple tree.
We forget our maple tree time
We have too much to think about.
I am guilty as the next, and it’s so wrong.
I do very well for awhile, then I get convicted again.
I was preached to once. ABout being a parent.
How MUCH we enjoy time with our children. When they’re little it’s easy. As they grow, we kinda have to fight the world to get their attention, when they grow up and away, we are grateful for any time together.
God is like that.
Think of being a parent adn the joy and the happiness we experience when our kids want to be with us.
God feels the same way.
Thanks for the info on downloading the NT. I just did it and look forward to getting it on my MP3 player. I only hope I will hold.
I can’t stress enough the importance of reading the entire Bible all the way through! It gives Christian’s a stronger foundation and broader perspective and puts lots of issues in full context. Most importantly, it allows Christians to think about the Bible for themselves (for a change).
Don’t simply rely on the clergy to fill you in — they can be dead wrong!!! And study Bibles are nice. It is absolutely amazing the transformation that will take place in your life.
I once came across this interesting challenge:
Reading the Bible through Once Every Month, i.e. # of pages in your Bible/ # of days in the month = daily reading
I’ve never been disciplined enough to actually do that (although I tried and failed miserably). But rather than speed-read the Bible, I found that trying to read it through in one year was more manageable and I enjoyed it more and feel that I learned more.
For slower readers like myself, I might also highly recommend reading through Proverbs every month.
Hi Jay – good point about reading the whole thing. I highly recommend it, even if it is a quick read-through. I listened to it all the way through on my iPod once. It took about three months (there were 81 hours of audio), listening every chance I got in the car and such. Obviously not a deep study, but it really helped put it all together.
“Listening” through the Bible really might be more convenient than finding time to sit down and read through it. Thanks for the tip!
I’ll have to go borrow my wife’s ipod!
This year is all matthew all the time. R. C. Sproul suggests to read each book 3 times, and then move to the next one.
This year I have to master matthew. Then I’m going back to Genesis through Relevations FY09.
Neil – write Matthew Pop Quizz for Edgar in your calendar.
This Time. Next Year. It’s on.
I don’t know if you have heard of J Vernon McGee who did through the Bible in the 60s/70s, but you can download and listen for free his five year study from Genesis to Revelation. Very good for those who drive a lot.
Here is the link:
McGee
Biblical illiteracy is growing because the majority of “Bible readers” aren’t engaging in God’s Word regularly. In fact, 65% of self-identified Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament. Only 10% have read the entire Bible!
Fight Biblical illiteracy. Take God’s Word wherever you go by using audio Bibles. At http://www.FaithComesByHearing.com, you and your readers can download one of more than 10 English versions or one of more than 275 other languages.
I can’t remember how I found your blog, but sure am glad I did! I plan on taking advantage of the downloadable audio Bible and the McGee downloads Robin mentioned, thank you so much!
E. I. Sanchez, I’ve been listening to some excellent Matthew audio sermons, here –they can be downloaded for free, too.
Readers beware!
The following is an exercise in free association of the many topics covered in the last couple of weeks as I lack the time, patience, and keyboard skills
Neil:
Good afternoon! Thank you so much for the link to FCBH. Now I am ready. My MP3 player now contains the NIV along with my continuing medical education audio files. How geeky am I????!!!!
(I’m contemplating on splurging and signing up for ESPN’s and Rush Limbaugh’s podcasts, but they are not essential.) Links and information such as this is why I am happy that you blog and that you were nominated or won a Thinking Blog Award recently. If I had more time and patience, and writing skills such as you, Theo, et al, I would give it a try. I do make the time to read the bible; especially after I discovered your quote: If you haven’t read the bible today, it is because you choose not to.
With respect to motive or accuracy, I couldn’t help but chuckle and think of where to road of good intentions lead us.
Life is going well for me and my family. I hope that all is well with you and your family; I certainly enjoy reading your offerings as well as some noted regulars….a true treat and privilege.
As always, thanks for the bandwidth!
Godspeed
Joseph
The majority of Christian have never read the bible- I think this trend holds true throughout history (at least until the Reformation- but even afterward the majority of believers were Catholic). Of course some people have become atheists after reading the bible- increased bible literacy should yield interesting results.
Samuel, that’s one of the things I can’t stand – WHY would most Christians not want to read the Word given them?
Someone with your same alias has been pestering me on my post “Concerning atheism.” It wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?