“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path“
– Psalm 119 103-105
Many years ago, while reading through the Bible the third or fourth time, I felt like skipping the book of Nehemiah. As many may attest to, this temptation to skip portions of the Bible when reading through it is always present, especially when reading through the genealogies! But again, my conscience prevented me from skipping the book and I eventually read through it.
Now few years later, I was at a very big cross-road to the point where I couldn’t sleep well for about four days. It was a crisis moment for me and I felt lost in the dark. But while rolling on my bed unable to sleep, the words “should such a man as I flee?” kept coming to my mind. My thoughts were not clear so I didn’t clearly grasp where those words came from. Eventually I discovered those words were from the Bible, and alas from the very book of Nehemiah which I thought I could skip. The Lord had used the words of those blessed pages of Holy Writ to show me the light and the way in one of my most darkest moments. Few years later, I can attest to the fact that that was a truly divine guidance.
We are told clearly that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works..” – 2 Tim 3:16-17.
Every single line of Scripture is intentionally and deliberately given by our Triune God, the All-Wise One, for our benefits, including the genealogies, and every single repetition is intended. The Bible is not only inspired, it is inerrant. It is the Perfect Law of Liberty. We therefore ought to take special care to constantly try to cover as much ground as possible in this life so we can be better equipped for the journey towards perfection. We never can tell what parts of the Scripture we will need and when we will need them and we can never know the Bible enough. All of us are life-long students of the Holy Bible and our graduation and convocation is in heaven, not in this world.
Reading through the Bible is a great spiritual discipline that will help us cultivate other spiritual disciplines. Every believer should endeavour to make it a duty to ready through their Bible once in year. Even if you failed last year, please try to embark on the journey again this new year or even at any time of the year. This is where Bible Reading Plans come handy.
Actually, the rule is simple: If you read 3-4 chapters per day on average, you will comfortably finish the Bible in a year.
“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”
Charles Spurgeon
1-Year Chronological Bible Reading Plans:
This is the most famous reading plans. Your Bible alone is actually enough, no need for any extra materials. Just tick or mark the chapters you read each day and move from beginning to the end. However, a printed plan can be very helpful if you don’t use the same printed Bible always. You also may start this plan any time and progress at your pace too. Some days you read up to cover for readings you missed.
The following are different reading formats for the 1-Year Chronological Bible Reading Plans.
M’Cheyne’s 1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
This is one of the most popular Bible Reading Plan, orginally devised by the Rev. Robert Murray M’Cheyne in 1842. M’Cheyne was one of Scotland’s most faithful and powerful preacher of the Word, who was called Home quite early to Heaven’s gain, but to our grief!
M’Cheyne Bible reading plan take the reader through the New Testament and Psalms twice a year, and through the rest of the Bible once each year. There are approximately four chapters per day in this plan.
You can also download apps or software to aid you in this noble goal. We recommend OliveTree Bibe App or Bible.com.