We come once again to a new year…new opportunities…expectations…anticipations…hopes…concerns…and so much more!
Logic
As we approach this year with all its crispy freshness, consider the following logic for continuing or starting a daily Bible reading plan:
- The Bible is one of God’s primary instruments of grace.
- Daily Bible reading is not a natural inclination.
- Therefore, to daily avail myself to the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit in my mind, heart, and life, I must pursue a disciplined approach to reading God’s Word, because discipline is not something I drift into but something I choose to do (a slight paraphrase from D.A. Carson).
Objections
- Discipline may lead to legalism (leading to self-righteousness).
- Failing to be disciplined may lead to defeat (leading to self-deprecation).
Responses
- Legalism is doing or avoiding to gain God’s favor. The Christian, by grace through faith, possesses God’s favor based on His free grace. Additionally, God is a God of order carried out through discipline. Thus, discipline does not mean legalism if pursued in alignment with God’s order.
- Defeat is part of life and teaches us humility. The aim in discipline is not perfection but consistency. Thus, when I don’t “meet” any manmade standard, I don’t quit. Instead, I resume with resilience, because my identity is not rooted in what I do but in what God has done on my behalf through the life, death, resurrection, and advocacy of Christ.
Encouragement
If God’s Holy Spirit illuminates His truth (1 Cor. 2:14-16) through God’s Word, the Bible, then it follows that my first step in experiencing, gaining, or encountering God’s truth is to plan to read the Bible.
However, often, we don’t know where to start.
My encouragement is to start with the Robert Murray M’Cheyene Bible reading plan. I have used this plan for years and have found it to be invaluable.
Whatever plan you choose, stick with it, even if you have to make up days. Set aside 30 minutes each morning, and avail yourself to God’s Word.
Press on…and Happy New Year!
“…in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
— January 1, 2026