Read the Bible

Several years ago I came under conviction concerning reading the Bible. We as Baptist claim to be a people of the “Book”, often we find our testimony to exceed our practice. Even as ministers we sometimes fail to spend adequate time in personal Bible devotions. It is a tragic truth but some preachers are more familiar with the New York Stock Exchange than they are with the Word of God. Many people quote the Bible or blame the Bible with statements never having read the Bible.

For the past several years I have attempted to keep a commitment to spend at least one hour each day in devotional Bible reading. The intent of this reading is not to prepare for a sermon or study but rather to become better acquainted with the Word of God. This has caused me to read through the Bible once every 60.4 days. I have read the King James, New King James, New International, Holman, New Living, God’s Word, and English Standard, translations (many several times). I am currently reading the New Berkley translation. While my personal preference and the Bible I use in my study and the pulpit is the King James, I have found it beneficial to read from modern translations.

This has not been an easy commitment to keep. My schedule is as busy as or busier than the average person. Each day I arise at 5:00am so that I can spend that first hour of the day in God’s Word. There are very few interruptions at 5:00am. One of the benefits is that I spend that time with my wife Ruthi as she does her personal devotions. There are days when I would rather sleep than read. God has not only helped me to keep the commitment, He has blessed my understanding of the panorama of His Word.

This has been a marvelous journey. I encourage you to commit to spend a specific period of time each day in God’s Word. It will bless your soul.

Attempting to connect the dots…

Wayne
Romans 1:16

Quotable:
“I am a creature of a day. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God. I want to know one thing: the way to heaven. God himself has condescended to teach me the way. He has written it down in a book. Oh, give me that book! At any price give me the book of God. Let me be a man of one book.”

--John Wesley