Around the (Story of) the World in 90 Days
How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. (Psalm 119:9, The Message)
Life, true life, is only possible through a constant intake of the Words from God found in the Holy Scriptures. All of the Holy Scriptures — Old and New Testaments. And because that’s true, I’ve read the whole Bible through in a year probably more than 15 times over the last 20 years or so.
As I considered what my Bible reading plan should be this year — and we all need a plan for reading the Bible, or it simply won’t happen — I decided I’d try something I’ve never done as my 55th year comes to a close and a new year begins. Namely, instead of reading the Bible through in a year, I’ve decided to read it through in 90 days. Why would I do this, you may ask?
Well, the great benefit of reading the Bible through that quickly allows it to powerfully speak as the story it is. You see, in the same way many of us will read a great novel in a couple of months — taking in the narrative, not studying it in-depth, just enjoying the story — I thought: Why not do the same with the Bible?
To help me, in December I purchased a Reader’s Edition of the Bible in the Christian Standard Bible translation. I did so because this edition removes all chapter and verse numbers, which aren’t inspired anyway, and get in the way of simply reading the story. In other words, it makes it like picking up any other novel you’d read; just the best novel you’ll ever read!
I then set myself a plan for reading:
Read the whole Bible, starting January 01 and ending March 31.
In those 13 weeks, read from Monday through Saturday, with Sunday being my grace / catch-up day. So, that’s 78 actual days of reading.
The version of the Bible I’ve purchased has 1,816 pages.
So, that means I get to read 23 pages per day to finish by March 31.
I’m only four days in, but it has been such an incredible joy already, and has revitalized my love for and desire to take in the story of the world that God has told, and is telling. Moving at a faster pace, and taking in larger swaths of the story, helps you learn and see things that you wouldn’t at a slower pace and studying at a more granular level.
And yet, in the same way as when I’m studying smaller swaths, I still find that there will be one particular piece of the story that will strike home that day and stick with me, helping me learn something of God and what he is up to in his story, and how my story relates to and is a part of his plan.
What a joy! What a privilege it is to have the very words of God! “God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.” (Psalm 19:10, The Message)
Whatever your plan is for reading the Holy Scriptures this year, dear reader, I’m praying for you as I come to the end of this post, asking our Father that you would truly and deeply delight in his story (Psalm 119:16).
Tolle Lege!
