It is about this time of year that many of us start making plans to read through the Bible in a year. Over at the Gospel Coalition blog Stephen Witmer has posted a very helpful little piece on a two year Bible reading plan that he prepared for his church. It has some good pointers for those of us thinking of embarking on reading through the Bible over the next year (or two).Witmer begins by quoting these words from Scottish pastor Robert Murray M'Cheyne, who was writing to his flock about a scheme he had prepared for his church to read through the whole of Scripture in a year:
MY DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up within me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved. “God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” What the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? . . . Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we shall be able to say like David—, “The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law.” “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.” It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree, so that the whole Bible might be read once by you in the year, and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time.Witmer's article can be read in full by clicking here, where you can also download a copy of his Bible reading plan.
