Preacher Zhang at church made an announcement just before Christmas, he said that he was challenging members of the church to read the bible through in one year. He gave us the first three months of the reading plan, and to do this, it means reading 4 chapters a day. But this is a plan with a difference, because we are reading 4 books of the bible a a time.
To start with we have Genesis, Ezra, Matthew and Acts.. interesting mixture don't you think? As Both of us started out to do this and we pray that we would be faithful in reading the complete bible in one year. We can so easily be put off as we get to the difficult passages of scripture, it happened to me as I read Ezra Chapter 2.. it is long and contains a long list of names of people who had traveled back to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild the temple. My heart sank a little, but I continued to read and will continue to read through the bible, because it will benefit us both.
The word of God is likened to honey.. it is sweet to our taste.. amen. I would encourage you to read the bible through in one year. You know I have read bible reading notes for so long, and taken a little bit of scripture.. which are usually the favorite bits. To my great shame.. I say that I have only read some books like Ezekiel and Jeremiah only once.. it is terrible that we have such a pick and mix mentality to our bible reading.
Let me tell you, that when i don't read the bible and pray first thing in the morning.. I usually end up having a bad day..and it is usually down to me not doing these important things.. reading my bible and communing with God.
Update on January 9th.. will let you know if we finish on time
Keith is keeping up, but Helen is little bit behind as she is reading English Version
Thomas brooks the great christian minister, wrote this
Bible reading...
by Thomas Brooks--
"Remember that it is not hasty reading,
but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths,
that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.
It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers
honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the
sweet.
It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will
prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian."
My friends, the greatest book is the bible, let us give it the place of Honour. In the Chinese church, the word of God is treated with reverence, the bible is read before service.
Read the bible, mediate on it's truth, obey it's commands, treasure the rebuke it gives.
Take time to read your bible... it will change your life if you let it.
God bless you
Keith and Helen
