Mark D. Geil, Kinesiology and Health,
Georgia State University
[December 1, 2008] — As I write these words on the 336th day of the year, I can begin to reflect on another annum of reading through the Bible, cover to cover, in order from page one to that last beautiful “Amen.” I am following Rae Mellichamp’s handy guide, divided up to make each day’s reading about the same number of verses, something the
engineer in me appreciates. However, I’ve done something radically different this year: I invited my family along for the ride.
A Big Task With Three Daughters
I mentioned the idea to my wife about this time last year. I shared that I felt God calling us to read through the Bible together as a family. She was supportive, but she is also the pragmatist who realizes the difficulty of engaging in such a big daily task with three daughters, one of whom was only six years old at the time. Still, she sensed my enthusiasm and agreed, with the caveat that we would all have
to really pitch in to make this happen.
Now I look at just how many pages I turn to get to today’s reading in 1st Corinthians and I’m amazed. We started off reading mostly aloud, all together, usually perched on our bed. We managed the genealogies and Levitical laws and yes, the Numbers. Sometimes we’ve read too quickly, longing to stop and ask questions and dig deeper but aware that we had a schedule to keep. Sometimes we got behind, and had to launch into marathon catch-up days. As the year wore on, that six-year-old became a much better reader, and we’ve often done our reading on our own, holding each other accountable. The reading goes more quickly when it’s not aloud, allowing more time for glances at the notes. We’ve even just purchased a dramatized New Testament on CD, so others can do the reading for us.
We All Now Know The Word Better
This effort has indeed been a challenge, but there have been so many wonderful moments along the way. We all now know the Word better, and consequently we know the Author of that Word better. We have been profoundly reminded that everything in the Bible points to Jesus. Those months spent in the Old Testament have made us long for Him in a tangible way. We’ve felt the years of silence between Malachi and Matthew, and our sorrow on Golgotha has been more poignant than ever. Now we celebrate the risen Savior even as the calendar reminds us again of His birth.
I encourage you to make the same commitment we did. Disciple your children by pointing them to the Bible. Grow closer to God and in so doing grow closer together.
You may download the Bible reading plan here:
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© 2008 Mark D. Geil Used by permission of Faculty Commons