Inconsistency is at the heart of being unproductive. How do I know this? Because at times, like most, I am prone to both. I have learned over the years that whatever it is I am doing that when I get into a consistent routine I am much more productive in it. That could be in exercise, in family routines, in my work, in my personal devotional time, etc. And one particular area where that has proven true for me is in my daily Bible reading.
Now don’t get me wrong. I do read my Bible in some capacity every day. I’m privileged in that it is included in the nature of my work. However, as far as reading the Bible in an organized and structured way outside of my normal everyday sermon and Bible class preparation I admit that at times I become inconsistent.
The last few months I have been following through one of the many Bible reading plans available through the OliveTree Bible Software app on my iPad. Every evening at some point between supper and the time we go to bed I make it a point to open it up and read through that day’s scheduled chapters. Is it the best way to do it? I don’t know, but I need the routine inherent in a Bible reading plan to make myself consistent and maybe you do to. So today I want to offer you just a few brief reasons why you should maybe start.
Because the schedule keeps you accountable. Do you really want to read through the Bible in a year? What about the New Testament every month or every three months? You better keep on schedule or it won’t get done. You cannot get behind on a structured, goal-oriented reading plan and accomplish what you want to do. The schedule keeps you accountable. I remember several years ago when I was in high school I had set a goal for reading through the entire Bible in the course of the year using one of those bookmark schedules. I stayed on schedule pretty well through November and then starting with Thanksgiving I started getting really busy and got out of routine. All of a sudden I realized it was New Year’s Eve and I was just finishing Jude and had not even started on the twenty-two chapters of Revelation. But I really wanted to accomplish my goal so I sat down and read the entire book that night before the New Year began. How much easier would it have been if I had just stayed on schedule? Set a goal and stick to it and the schedule will help to keep you accountable.
Because the repetition builds knowledge. You’ve probably heard the old adage that the key to learning or memorization is repetition, repetition, repetition. The more you consume material the more likely that material is to stick. It is easy, when you’re not following a Bible reading plan personalized or premade, to accomplish your goal and then because you can say you’ve done it move on. A Bible reading plan, of sorts, encourages repetition. Do it, but keep on doing it. You’re never going to retain all of the material you have consumed just by the first pass alone. You need to keep it up. If you’ve read through the New Testament in a month, when that month is over start again. If you’ve read through the Bible in the course of a year, when that year is over do it again. The more you read through the Bible the more of it you will retain. That repetition truly helps to build knowledge.
Because the material draws you closer to God. This is really the key. Reading the Bible is not just about making and keep goals. It’s not just about being able to say you have done it. Reading the Bible is about learning God’s word and developing a deeper relationship with Him. Paul seemed to indicate that when he encouraged Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God…” (2 Timothy 2:15). Why? Because that word “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Not knowing God’s word offers sure destruction (Hosea 4:6) The Bible is God’s perfect will, sufficient unto salvation (Romans 1:16). What greater ambitions could we have as our intention for reading the Bible on a regular basis? As the song says – “Read your Bible and pray every day and grow, grow, grow!” You should commit yourself to regular Bible reading because it is the only way to draw closer to God.
Of all the reading that we tend to do in the course of a day (news, books, magazines, blogs, etc.) sadly the Bible is at the bottom of many people’s list. But there is no greater use of our time than to spend it in God’s book. I am in favor of whatever method you use, structured and organized reading plan or not. But if you have trouble doing it on your own then try out one of any number of Bible reading plans that are available. It just might help.
-Andy Brewer