Read through the Bible in one-year, reflections part I

Some of you may be giving the “Read through the Bible in a Year” resolution a try. Truth be told I have read through the whole Bible but never in one year! It is a challenge have taken up a handful of times and have run out of gas at various points during the year. 8-) 

Wanted to offer a few quick reflections on this spiritual discipline. 

#1 - Remember the goal is to be present with God. Reading and meditating on the Bible helps with our desire to focus on God. And so sometimes the Bible will be quite clear in what it is saying in terms of an encouragement or something that pokes our conscience. But sometimes, things might not be so clear and that is okay to - chew on it a bit, make a note of it, keep it in mind and come back to it another time. Whatever you come across in the reading, pray it back to God as prompted.

#2 -Consider listening to the Bible in addition to reading it. Remember, the experience of reading a personal copy of the Bible (printed or digital) is a very new innovation in human history. At one time, we had no digital Bibles on a phone or a tablet! At one time, a printed Bible was a luxury item. At one time, most people could NOT even read. For most of human history, Christians HEARD the Bible read to them. 

#3 - Talk to other believers about what you have read. Share what was comforting. Share what was awe inspiring. Share what was thought provoking. Share what was confusing. 

# # #

A quick share from reading so far: Genesis 4:26, "To Seth also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” 

The “big story line” of the Bible is: Creation - Fall - Redemption. Along the way, especially in Genesis, there is a LOT of falling down and messing up! But along the way there are little glimmers of restoration. Have to say have probably read Genesis 4:26 any number of times over the years but for some reason it stuck out in this recent re-read. Yes, things were going bad with the Fall in Genesis 3 and the Cain and Abel story in Genesis 4 and Lamech’s brazen actions and words in Genesis 4 and the Flood is coming soon. But here in Genesis 4:26 some people were calling upon the name of the Lord. And so even when things were bleak, God was still working in some people and a remnant trusted Him even if many did not. Take heart and keep calling upon the name of the Lord!

Soli Deo Gloria!