Dec 20, 2024 Grow in the Word in 2025 – Words of Grace – December 20, 2025
Starting the new year with a Bible reading plan has become cliché. But don’t let that stop you from doing it anyway.
The legalists may say they will not plan to read the Bible in 2025 because they need to break the “should” cycle in their lives. The easily discouraged may have already given up on ever being able to finish the plan. Rebels may not participate in Bible reading plans simply because they think it’s expected of them. All of these will miss out on the opportunity to sit before the Lord’s Word and hear the voice of his Spirit speaking through what he has spoken.
There is a better way. Decide against legalism, discouragement, and rebellion. Get your Bible. Pray for a pure, hungry, and humble heart. And read.
We need to understand the “why” behind spending time in Bible reading. The best place in the Bible to do this is Psalm 119. This 176-verse chapter of the Bible tells us how beautiful, truthful, and helpful God’s Word is. It is a prayer for God to incline our minds and hearts to hear and heed his words. I recommend you read it on January 1 and ask the Lord to revive your desire to read the Bible in 2025.
The Word of God, recorded in the sixty-six books of the Bible, tells us what we need to know about him. It shows us how to walk with him through faith in Jesus Christ. It sustains our souls and guides our steps as the Holy Spirit makes its truth known to us. We read the Bible because it is the Word of life.
Here are some thoughts on growing in the Word in 2025.
Get a Bible. At the risk of sounding “old school,” I suggest you get a paper and ink Bible. I have no data to support my opinion, but I think a physical, book-style Bible will help you study and meditate on passages better. If that doesn’t apply to you, no problem. Use a good Bible app on your phone.
A study Bible will be helpful by giving you overviews, background material, and insight on specific passages. I use the ESV Study Bible. For this, I do use the app on my phone.
Get two translations of the Bible. I use one translation that does more translating and less interpreting (examples: English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Christian Standard Version, New International Version), and one translation that does a slight bit of interpreting (New Living Translation). Using the two, I can usually get a good understanding of a passage.
Get a plan. Here is where you need to be realistic about what you can accomplish and what you need. If this is a year for large portions of the Bible to get a good overview, plan to read through the Bible two or more times. Just figure out how many chapters you need to read each day. If this is a year for smaller portions of daily reading so you can study deeper and pray more over the message, choose a plan that gets you through the Bible in two or three years. Most people choose to read through the Bible once a year. Here are some Bible reading plans.
Plan to read at the same time and place each day. Let routine serve you. Spend your energy reading the Bible rather than deciding when and where you will read.
Get a partner. Ask someone to share in periodic conversations about what each of you is reading and how the Word is working in you.
Get into the Bible. Remember, the point is not getting through the Bible, it is getting into the Bible. Taking in some portion of God’s Word every day is your goal.
Let the Bible get into you. As you read the Bible, pray, receive, repent, and believe.
Get together around the Word. Come to church and feast on the Word of God with others.
This weekend, read Colossians 3:16 and pray for our congregation as we let the word of Christ richly dwell in us.
-Scott