CHALLENGE

Guess what! Today's my birthday! And because it's my birthday, I can say whatever I want, right?
And here's what I have to say.........

...I have a challenge for you for the coming year!

If you're reading this blog, and you have never read the Bible through, let this be the year to do so. It will bless you, enrich your mind, increase your knowledge, (just to name a few benefits).

This past year, I have been reading the One Year Chronological Bible (NIV). All of the books, chapters and verses are there, but are in chronological order. It has been most interesting and rewarding. I especially enjoyed reading about God's dealings with the nation of Israel in the order that the events took place.

You don't have to guess about how many chapters to read each day, because it is all laid out for you.

I also highly recommend The MacArthur Daily Bible (NKJV), which contains many study helps along with the Scripture.

A man named Amos R. Wells said it so much better than I can:

WHEN YOU READ THE BIBLE THROUGH

I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,

Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty third),
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs--
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!

But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.

You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer.

You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book--
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude impatient look--

Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through!

Anyway, that's my challenge.
If you've read your Bible through (perhaps, even several times), then why not read it through again using a different translation?
Just a hint to get you started, if you don't want to go out and purchase a new Bible, read through the Bible you have, which contains 1189 chapters. Divided by 365 days in the year, that amounts to approximately 3 1/3 chapters a day.
One thing is certain, you can never read God's Word too much or too often!