3 Ways I Plan to Read the Bible Less in 2018

Let us strive, every year we live, to become more deeply acquainted with Scripture. – J. C. Ryle

Regularly reading God’s Word is one of the most important things we can do. We live in a world that constantly tells us lies that our hearts are prone to trust. But in his mercy, God has given us his Word to guide and guard us. He has “granted to us his precious and very great promises” to renew our minds and refresh our hearts (2 Pet. 1:4). As much as we need food to live physically, we need God’s Word to live spiritually (Matt. 4:4).

The dawn of a new year offers a natural time to recommit to regularly reading the Bible. Of course, there’s nothing magical about a new year, but we do tend to think about changes that will grow us in Christlikeness.

One change I’ve made the past few years is that I plan to read less of the Bible each year. I’ve found less can actually be more.

Since becoming a Christian in 1999, I’ve followed a read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. I’ve enjoyed it, but honestly, I’ve never finished one.

Some years I’ve made it farther than others, and by God’s grace, I’ve never gone more than a few days without spending time in his Word. But I’ve also been riddled with guilt for failing to finish the plan, and I’ve rushed through portions just to check it off. Earlier in my walk with the Lord, the guilt was debilitating, and it sometimes lingers today. Read More

There are many different schemes for read the Bible. I have used a number of them. If you adopt the spiritual discipline of praying the Daily Offices every day, you are likely to read all or most of the Bible in a year, depending on the Daily Office Lectionary that you use.

In Thomas Cranmer's plan the New Testament was to be read through twice in a year; the Old Testament once, and the Psalter every thirty days. Cranmer's plan, however, was not so much a private Bible reading plan as a public one. Cranmer believed in the transforming power of God's Word and it was his expectation that the people would join their pastor when he read the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer. The pastor was directed to ring the church bell to summon the people to the Daily Offices.

When reading the Bible privately, however, it is not necessary to read the entire Bible through every year. One may choose to "graze" in certain parts of the Bible - the Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets, the Gospels, the Epistles, and so on. Every five years or so, one should, however, read the entire Bible though from beginning to end. It is good to be familiar with the whole Bible and not just parts of it - to hear the whole counsel of God.

A common way that people misinterpret the Bible is by reading a text in isolation from what is written elsewhere in the Bible. This is why it important to have more than a passing acquaintance with the whole Bible.

One thing we should take great care to avoid is treating our reading of the Bible as if we are performing a good work. Rather our Bible reading should be motivated by a desire to know and obey God and to grow in our relationship with him.