Have you ever tried a Bible Reading plan? Many of us begin each new year with good intentions, but our efforts peter out after a few weeks. I’ve been there myself plenty of times. In all honesty, part of the problem could be a lack of discipline. It’s easier to fritter time away on Netflix, Youtube, or Facebook, or even in exercise (1 Timothy 4:8). If that’s the case, then I need to check my priorities.
Some failures might have to do with my desire or my perception of the Bible. Have I forgotten that Scripture is God’s revelation of himself and his promises, plans, purposes for his creation? Have I forgotten that the Bible is God’s very word and is my authority in all matters of faith and life? Has it slipped my mind that the Bible is the way I hear God’s voice? Do I even have a desire to hear from God, or am I content with my own wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-7)? If that’s the case, then I need to check my heart.
But sometimes, sometimes it could be the system itself. There are a plethora of Bible reading systems out there, and if you’ve struggled to remain consistent in the past trying a new one might help. If chronological doesn’t work for you, then try a thematic. If a year-long plan doesn’t work for you, try a two-year version. Find one that works best for you. Maybe a cover-to-cover, Genesis through Revelation is difficult for you. Understandable. But don’t quit altogether.
Let me suggest a system that you’ve probably never heard of. It’s stuck with me since January and is called Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System. It’s a year-long plan, and as Grant Horner points out, by the end you’ll have read “through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and Prophetic books about 1 ½ times.” It sounds daunting, but you’ll accomplish this by reading just 10 chapters a day.
Mind you, the emphasis is not necessarily on completing the reading in a year, but regularly reading through Scripture. (Read 5 chapters instead, if that works for you.) Along the way, you’ll be surprised how various themes are developed and repeated in different passages throughout the Bible. You’ll also notice how people, events, and passages relate to one another and how together they compose God’s redemptive history.
I’ve found Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System to be immensely helpful. And if you’re not currently following a Bible reading plan, then I encourage you to try it out. If it doesn’t work for you, that’s ok. Try another one. And as you read, remind yourself that the Bible is God’s gracious self-disclosure to use. Rehearse the the gospel and the excellencies of Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to illumine the truths of God’s word in your mind and heart. As Professor Horner reminds us, whatever the method we use to read Scripture the goal is “simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!”