2022. A new year stands before us. 2021 and 2020 before that have been challenging to put it mildly.

Viruses. Bombings. Senseless murders. Shut-downs. Financial hardships. Crime. Dirty, partisan politics. Suicide. Sexual immorality. Anger. Road rage. Persecution. The loss of religious freedoms.

The world around us has been and continues to be in upheaval. Everything is changing right before our eyes.

Even within the church world, there are many false gospels.

So, how will we know truth from lies? How can we stand strong in a changing world, when life gets hard, or stays hard?

Take the Challenge for 2022

How will we stand strong? Only by careful understanding and consideration of God’s Word. That warrants challenging ourselves to read through the Bible so we better know and understand it in its entirety and in context.

God’s Word is the one thing that never changes. The one thing that will be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet. The one sure foundation and an anchor for our souls.

It’s a firm foundation when all around us is sinking sand.

Our comfort in chaos.

Our standard for living.

It’s wisdom for 2022 and for the days to come.

But just knowing that God’s Word has the answers won’t bring the stability we need. Neither will merely hearing a good sermon once a week. His truth must become the filter through which we view all of life.

If we’re going to have God’s wisdom, we must learn to think as He thinks as much as humanly possible. If we’re to find comfort, we must know Him for who He is, His grace, His sovereignty, His love for those who belong to Him. Those things will only happen if we know, digest, and live out His Word. It must truly be our daily bread.

The Faucet of His Truth & Wisdom

We aren’t to do this legalistically. It’s not about earning God’s favor. And we won’t do it perfectly. Even with the best of intentions, we may miss days and fall behind at times. That’s OK. But taking the challenge to read through the Bible helps us see that the Bible is more than 66 random books about God. It’s one book, penned by men, but written by the Holy Spirit.

It’s God story. It points to Christ from the opening pages to the end. It shows us our desperate need for Him and fills us with the wonder of salvation. We can stand amazed like the psalmist when he said, “What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Ps. 8.4).

And as our love for Him deepens and our wonder over the cross grows, so does our faith. We grow in our desire to please and obey Him and the fruit of His Holy Spirit is produced in our lives. Not because of our abilities, but because of His power working in us.

You and I can’t make that happen. It’s God’s work in us. But reading our Bibles, spending time with Him in prayer and worship, along with being part of a good Bible-believing, Bible teaching church is life changing. His change. Reading the Bible is like putting ourselves under a faucet where His truth and wisdom are poured out. It’s how He speaks to His children.

70 Hours

One of the objections to reading through the Bible is that it would just take too long. While I’m not suggesting that anyone should sit down and read it like a novel with little thought, the Bible can be read through, even out loud, in 70 hours. That’s less than three days time. And we’re talking about reading it in a year.

A Bolder Step

And what about taking an even bolder step? Why not ask a friend or a co-worker to read through the Bible with you?

The world around us is literally perishing—people are dying and going into an eternity where they will be separated from God forever, marriages are falling apart, children are suffering, and so much more. Are you and I willing to step out in faith?

Even people who don’t go to church will often respond positively to the question, “Would you like to learn more about the Bible?”

The Challenge to Stick to It

And for those of you who have been reading along with me for a while or perhaps dropping in occasionally, I know it can be a challenge some mornings sticking to the commitment to read your Bible.

Even if it gets done with some fits and starts or you miss a few days, I encourage you to keep going. The reward is a deepening relationship with Jesus and it’s sweeter than you can imagine!

So, whether you’re a newcomer to the site or an occasional visitor, prayerfully consider signing up here for the daily readings. They will pop up in your inbox as a gentle reminder to stay in His Word. And call or text a friend and challenge him or her to sign up with you! Take the challenge!

Blessings,
Donna

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