A Bible-Reading Plan
When was the last time you read through the Bible? Many of you are doing that now. Someone reading this article has never read the Bible. It is not too late to begin.
You could open your Bible at the book of Genesis and start there. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if this is your first time reading the Bible, or it has been a while, consider a fresh approach. Begin reading the New Testament first.
But where should you begin? It all depends on what you would like to accomplish. Would you like to read the books in the order they are found? Would you like to read it more closely to a chronological order – the order in which events happened? Or would you rather read it at a slower pace and know what you are reading very well? If I can help you develop a plan let me know.
A reading plan I am on right now is reading through the New Testament and focusing on the words of Jesus – the words you would find in a red-letter Bible. This reading plan is in keeping with my desire to be as ready as possible for His return. By reading what He said, I believe I am getting to know Him even more personally.
At the present time, I am reading what He said as recorded in the Gospel of John. In this book of our Bible, I have found an interesting truth. Twenty-five times in the book of John, Jesus said a phrase and John is the only one to have recorded this phrase. The phrase goes like this - “Most assuredly, I say to you …” Open your Bible to John 1:51 and see what it says.
Depending on the translation you use, the statement might read like this: “Verily, verily I say unto you” or “Truly, truly, I say unto you” or “Most assuredly, I say unto you” or “Very truly I say to you” or “I tell you the truth.” However it is found in John 1:51, you will find that phrase worded the same way in the other twenty-four occurrences.
As a student of the Bible and a Bible teacher, when I discovered this repetitive phrase, I wondered “Why?” Why did Jesus say these words as a preface to what He was about to say? As a believer in Jesus, I believe everything He said is important. So what was He communicating when He said this phrase these twenty-five times?
I discern what He was saying was, let me have your undivided attention, or pay attention to this, or be sure and remember this. It could be He wants us to understand, “If you forget everything else, I tell you, remember this.”
These words are strong affirmations. They are solemnly truthful statements and I am seeking to glean from them all I can. Enjoy reading the Bible. If you need help getting started, let me know.
