What better way to kick off our pastoral blog on NCCFToday than with an encouragement to daily Bible reading?
Paul assured Timothy and us that the Word of God is:
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15b-17 (ESV)
In other Words, the Bible provides everything the Christian needs to know in order to enjoy God and live a life that pleases Him and fulfills His will for us. So, let’s make sure we spend time in the Word daily.
I recently bought a copy of the English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible, which also gives you access to the study resources online. The ESV stands in the tradition of the King James Version and the Revised Standard Version — you can read more about it here.
But, what I really wanted to share with you is the online Daily Bible Reading Plan. This is a great strategy for anyone, but I highly recommend it to those of you who spend hours each day in front of a monitor or on the go, with a laptop or phone.
It’s the text of the ESV, arranged in a daily reading, which will take you through the Bible in a year. Each daily portion is drawn from divisions within the Bible: Psalms and Wisdom, Pentateuch and the History of Israel, Chronicles and Prophets and the New Testament. The text is very easy to read, includes some translation notes and also contains a link, which allows you to listen to the text. The narrator’s voice is one of the best I’ve ever heard and I found that I actually enjoyed reading along with him!
Let’s glorify God by living in the love of Jesus – one way we do that is by taking in His Word daily, allowing the words of Jesus to abide or live in us:
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. John 15:7&8 (ESV)
In Him,
Bo Salisbury
