INTRODUCTION

This DAILY BIBLE READING and MEDITATION schedule is for those who desire to read more than most yearly, through-the-Bible schedules.  The decision to accelerate the feeding on God’s Word may come from an intensified hunger to know God better or it may be specifically to commit to a deep turning of the soil of your heart to establish the rulership of Jesus over areas of your life that only He can reach.  For many years Nancy & I have read through the Bible together using the great yearly schedule, THE DAILY WALK.  We had a growing desire to read more and in varying combinations.  During the years of developing the new schedule, we continued to be astounded to see new vistas into God's mind and continuity by the combination of the Testaments. Following this schedule will take you through the Old Testament once and through the New Testament four times, reading from both each day.

In addition, the Old Testament reading will go through Song Of Solomon twice and Proverbs three times.  Each time through the New Testament will begin with one of the four Gospels then close the year with three more rapid times through all the Gospels, plus an additional time through Romans and one last time through the Gospel of John.  There are also special readings on Valentine’s Day, Leap Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Each day, a short title phrase will focus on one core point in that day’s portion and meditation passages will be suggested.  The suggestion of a passage to meditate on is designed to establish the essential habit of biblical meditation.  If you choose to continue following the schedule after the first year, as you read again through the day’s portion, mark a new segment to meditate on.  Many Bible scholars and commentators have written on the irreplaceable nature of this practice.  Reading the Psalms, you can see that its origin is wholly found in meditation upon God’s Word.  The most practical approach to the subject that I’ve found is in Campbell McAlpine’s little training book titled BIBLICAL MEDITATION.

A wondrous thing about reading and meditating on Scripture is that we are looking into the face of God.  Jesus is the Word of God, made flesh.  Why was He made flesh?  So men can see Him.  He wants us to know Him.  That is His own definition of the life He offers us and He says, “Come, taste and see.”  The more we come to God and see Him through the words we read, the more trustworthy is our perception of Him.  Knowing Him is eternal life.  Believing on Him is the work that God requires of us. Doing what He says is His indescribable glory brought to earth in us so that men may know that He is.  You are the light of the world.  Be lit.

We read and study the Bible because it is God’s Book.

He transcribed it by the hand of human beings whose quickened lives and hearts were wholly given to God and His purpose in Creation.

That purpose is Redemption, which in one word tells where we are from and where we are going.  A species specifically designed for communion with their Creator is given over to an antagonistic environment and a set of tests by which to qualify for the Main Event, eternal communion and fellowship with God and all the Redeemed.

We read and study the Bible because it’s God’s Book.

It gives the keys that open the doors and windows through which we may glimpse and become a resident of absolute Reality, while yet inside the man-ufactured environment which denies any absolute.

We read and study the Bible because,

As we do, our Creator’s face becomes clearer as our minds discover the wonder of His infinite intricacies and the joy of the interaction and communion in His Persons.

We read and study the Bible because,

As we do, our Father’s heart invades the darkness of our soul and our spirit is resurrected to life, Life In Him, His Life in us, to become the transmitter of His unapproachable holiness, His redeeming personality, His gathering nature, His childlike wonder and gushing joy in being together and in filling each of us with an all-encompassing, overflowing tiny particle of Himself, which becomes the fullness of His Person in human flesh.

We read and study the Bible because it is God’s Book.

Our God, our Creator, our Father who by the power of His Spirit gathers us to Himself to show His glory walking, talking, touching, loving, working, resting, singing, thinking, creating… all in flesh and blood, a Body of human bodies surrendered for the ultimate joy of knowing and showing Him to each other and to the worlds He has made.

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