How will you read the Bible in 2024?

As we head into a new year, it’s always a good time to plan your Bible reading. If you have a plan that works for you, stick with it! But if you don’t, now is a great time to get one, there’s a really helpful plan that you can get here.

If we want to see things in perspective and to be able to join the apostle Paul in seeing our present troubles as light and momentary compared to the glory that will be revealed then we must read our Bibles! I hope and pray that you have a wonderful 2024 and the Lord blesses you as you read His Word.

Here’s some other reasons as to why you should read your Bible in 2024:

Why should you read the Bible?

Bishop JC Ryle in his book practical religion gives 8 reasons:

I. In the first place, “there is no book in existence written in such a manner as the Bible.”

II. In the second place, “there is no knowledge absolutely needful to a man’s salvation, except a knowledge of the things which are to be found in the Bible.”

III. In the third place, “no book in existence contains such important matter as the Bible.”

IV. In the fourth place, “no book in existence has produced such wonderful effects on mankind at large as the Bible.”

V. In the fifth place, “no book in existence can do so much for every one who reads it with an open heart, as the Bible.”

VI. In the sixth place, “the Bible is the only standard by which all questions of doctrine or of duty can be tested.”

VII. In the seventh place, “the Bible is the book which all true servants of God have always lived by and loved.”

VIII. In the last place, “the Bible is the only book which can comfort a man in the last hours of his life.”

Where should I start?

Ryle gives these pointers:

• Begin reading your Bible this very day.
• Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it.
• Read the Bible with childlike faith and humility.
• Read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application.
• Read all the Bible, and read it in an orderly way. (our reading plan helps with this)
• Read the Bible with Christ continually in view. (Remember all the Bible is about Jesus!)

 “Give your Bible the best and not the worst part of your time. But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and the Bible every day.”

What if you can read, but don’t want to:

Ryle gives this warning:

You are in danger, because “your neglected Bible is plain evidence that you do not love God.” The health of a man’s body may generally be known by his appetite. The health of a man’s soul may be known by his treatment of the Bible. Now you are manifestly living with a serious disease. Will you not repent?

What if you find reading difficult?

You can listen to the Bible for free here –  just chose a passage and then click on the little speaker icon in the top left corner. Or else you can buy an app with David Suchet reading the entire Bible for iPhone here for just over 20Euro. There’s other ones available at Christian Audio and at Audible. 

If you have a smartphone or tablet, why not download the Bible onto your phone? You can download this app from Olive Tree for free here. Then sign in and create an account to download free Bible reading plans to take you through the Bible.