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This is a quick follow-up to my post of yesterday. In that post I described a rather extensive daily Bible reading plan that takes you through the Bible twice in a year. My suggestion was to read once from a formal equivalence translation, and once from a dynamic equivalence translation.
Today I just want to modify that somewhat. Many people are scared away from an extensive or complicated daily Bible reading schedule. They think, “that’s just too much for me” and so they either start and fail a few times and then give up, or they never start to begin with. I would like to offer another reading plan for these people.
Many people like to read a short passage, say a verse or maybe a parable from the gospels, and just think on that passage for a set period of time – perhaps all day. This is a wonderful method of Bible reading and is extremely valuable in letting the word of God “dwell in us richly.” So, if this form of Bible reading fits your needs and desires, by all means follow this path! I would only suggest that you read your passage once from your favorite type of translation (formal: ESV, NASB, RSV; dynamic: NIV, NLT, The Message, CEB) and once from the other style of translation. That way you are focusing on the same verse or story, but you are hearing it in two different voices. I believe this will enhance your devotional time significantly.
Either way, reading the Bible through twice in a year or maybe just focusing on one book for the entire year, you are reading, hearing, and listening to the word of God, and that is one of our main goals as his children.
May God bless your studies in 2012
