Not By Bread Alone
Have you ever read through the entire Bible? Several years ago, I sincerely tried. It seemed to me back then that the only option was a “read through the Bible in one year” plan, so I dove in and diligently attempted to read several chapters a day… and failed miserably. I found myself skimming rather than savoring the words of God as I tried to keep up with the pace of the plan.
Fast forward to about three years ago. Our family was visiting one of the churches that supports us, and the congregation was starting a group plan to read through the Bible chronologically in three years. Three years! I checked out the plan and found that, with very few exceptions, it only involves reading one chapter a day. And the idea of reading the Bible in a chronological way piqued my interest in history and my desire to better understand the big picture of Scripture. With this new plan, I felt ready to try a Bible read-through once again. So, I began, I loved every bit of it (even Leviticus!), and I finished it just a few weeks ago. I learned so much from Scripture, came to understand more about parts that were always confusing to me, and saw how the entirety of the Bible points to Jesus.
Christians always need to remember that the Bible is the precious Word of our Heavenly Father and that we need His Word constantly in our lives. Matthew 4:4 says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Each of our souls needs truth every day just as much as our bodies need sustenance every day. Those of us involved in ministry feel this need especially deeply. Each spring, when Echo Ranch’s full-time staff move back to camp, we always find ourselves physically hungrier than we were used to being throughout the winter, since we’re moving and walking so much more each day. In the same way, the constant serving, discipling, and living in community that we do makes our souls even more needy for God’s Word. Can you relate? The trick is in recognizing this spiritual hunger instead of ignoring it and making the time to dig into the Bible.
Fortunately, today, we have access to so many Bible reading plans and methods for taking in God’s Word. You can listen to it through an app or podcast, read it using a study Bible or alongside a commentary, use a journal to write out verses or what you’ve learned, or all of the above. The tools available to us today are abundant! However you choose to do it, I hope that this year you open your Bible and dig into God’s Word.