Life is complex. I think most people would agree.
And, when I say, complex, I don’t just mean hard to comprehend, but impossible to control. Can anyone answer how: (i) joy can be experienced in the face of sadness, (ii) success can be forged through failure, or (iii) triumph can be in such close proximity to tragedy?
Left to the human mind, it’s maddening.
And, it’s into this environment that the Christian can not only endure, but thrive.
How?
The Christian has an outside Source that settles all the dust and clears all the fog…he has an immovable Rock that will not sway…he has a steadfast Anchor that will not give way…and, he has a God who spoke into the confusion. God wrote a Book, and He has given it to us in our language. Glory! In the mysterious will of God, He has provided us access to the Divine mind through His Word, the Bible.
Practically speaking then, life is a journey of walking with God through His Word. Not an aimless wandering-type journey, but an intentional pilgrimage…a series of simple steps…
- The first step on the journey of walking with God is opening and reading your Bible…everyday.
- Find a reading plan that works for you (mine is the Robert Murray M’Cheyene reading plan, because it keeps me in both the OT and NT everyday. I use this resource as a supplement).
- Incidentally, the random reading method doesn’t work. You may get exposed to God’s Word that way, but you won’t see the continuity.
- The second step is seeing how your Bible fits together.
- Watch these videos 3x through.
- In addition, read through each book 1x (Genesis through Deuteronomy) through.
- The third step is becoming familiar with the first five books of the Bible. These books lay the foundation for your Bible.
- Watch these videos 3x through.
- Watch only the first 9 of these videos 1x through.
- The fourth step is understanding how each of the other books move the story of the Bible along…
- Start by watching these videos only 1x through beginning with Joshua, and then read the book right after you finish the video. Try to read the book all the way through in one sitting or at most 3 sittings. Do this for each book of the OT.
- Next, watch these videos only 1x through beginning with Matthew, and then read the book right after you finished the video. Do this for each book of the NT.
- Finally, you might also consider buying this prayer book to pray through after you finish reading each day.
This will take you some time, but stay with it. It’s a journey, not a destination.
May God’s grace guide us in each step we take on the journey of knowing Him through His Word, and may our face ever be before the face of the Father…
“When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.””
Psalm 27:8
— December 26, 2019