A Year End Review
At the start of 2018, our company president challenged us to write a monthly blog on the topic of Bible reading and literacy. The task was easier some months than others and now we have reached our final post for the year. The closing days of December are a time for reflection. A good time to honestly ponder the question… Did I consistently grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ this year?
Another way of asking the question is to borrow from the John MacArthur quote above and reflect, “were my thoughts consistently more saturated with Christ this year?” A definition of saturation is: ”the state or process that occurs when no more of something can be absorbed, combined with, or added.” We live in an era of plentiful media choices. Our staff considered the many ways we interacted with the Word of God over the last 12 months and ranked them:
- Print versions, (multiple translations, study Bibles, commentaries, journals, books, etc)
- LiteralWord.com (The cleanest online layout of the NASB and ESV)
- The Grace To You study app
- YouVersion
- Sermon Podcasts
(There were also many Christian Blog articles, magazines, sermons on the radio, YouTube, and of course church)
With all this availability and ease of access to God’s Word, we are indeed blessed. But in a land of plenty, there are many other media choices that are trying to get our attention. Spending time in God’s Word is still a choice. And one we must decide to put at the forefront each day.
But even if you are reading this and thinking you did a great job of establishing a morning quiet time throughout 2018, there could still be room for growth when we look at the Psalmist’s words: But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2) Do you see it? Day and Night.
Beginning each day in the Word is wonderful, but, digesting God’s Word at the end of each day is also a tremendous benefit. For most of us, there is room for growth in our daily discipline of Bible reading and we have yet to meet that point of saturation described in the MacArthur quote and definition.
Yet that place is not impossible, because we also read in the Psalms; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5b-6) Consider setting a New Year’s goal to become more immersed in God’s Word.
The more we are saturated with Christ, the more others will see the Gospel of grace at work in us and through us. Happy New Year, Team 316 #ReadYourBible P.S. Download or bookmark some of the media resources we linked above and consider picking a Bible reading plan. We’ve also created new Bible reading checklists for the OT and NT to guide you at your own pace. They’re great for kids too! Get them free here!