So, I am going to share my thoughts that I've been having recently about reading the Bible through in a year. I have considered doing it for quite a while now, and so I have been asking various people how they have done it. So, below is the amalgumation of my accumulated ponderings.
1. The major reason to do the entire Bible in a year is to see "the big picture."
2. It is better to do a book at a time and units within a book rather than following a rigid structure. (Read Philemon for one day instead of Philemon and the first two chapters of Hebrews. Or, read Mt. 1-4 and 5-7 on consecutive days, instead of 1-3, 4-6, 7-9.)
3. Read for comprehension not just accomplishment. Thus, it might be necessary to read 5-6 chapters a day but read them for two or three days in order to really get the meaning. (On average you should read 3 chapters a day, to make it through in a year.)
4. Don't try to do Psalms and Proverbs in this format. Read them individually, at night or something. (Or one a day).
5. If you jot down key thoughts from each chapter as you go through, you will have the basis for further study on the passage whenever you go back.
Now, confession is good for the soul, so I must admit: I have decided not to make it through the Bible in 1 year. I think I'll aim for 2 or a little more. The reason is that I don't think that I can do that volume of material yet and still have a comprehension of what I am reading. I think it would quickly fall into a ritual of speed-reading. So, I am planning to take my time in working through, and what's more, I honestly don't expect to go straight through. I think I will skip around and get some variety, but we will see. Let us go on to learn more of meeting with Christ, and let us enhance our knowledge of His Word.
He breathed his last, –
And died.
And the beat of the rain came hard and fast,
And the lightnings writhed in the sudden blast,
And the fierce winds cried.
Is he then dead?
But no –
For, “In him was life,” the beloved said,
And then, “Before Abraham”
(So his own words rang out long ago),
“I Am.”
But there he hangs –
Ah! red
And bloody his lifeless, ghastly form,
And the legions of darkness around him swarm,
And they gnash on him with their death-glutting fangs,
And he is dead.
But what is this – what stir, what rush?
In the pounding rain,
The rocks are split, the very heavens blush,
The temple-veil drops powerless, rent in twain –
And look! from their graves the godly slain
Come out, to live again.
Yes, “It is done!”
And after the storm, a breath
Kisses to life, while the demons still howl on.
His death is the death of death.
The minions of hell, that shrieked in horrid glee,
Now lift their voices in hopeless moans,
And, terror-stricken, flee.
And Sunday dawns
