Fads Come and Go…
Although I have only existed for a mere 35 years, I have seen my share of Christian fads. Let me name a few: Experiencing God, Velvet Elvis, The Prayer of Jabez, the Shack, and of course The Purpose Driven Life. Sometimes the fad is biblically sound and theologically clear. Other times, the teaching will focus too pointedly on a single attribute of God, that the fullness of his attributes are missed. Sometimes… the fad is heresy. One thing we can always count on is that there are more “fads” on the horizon and that is not going to change anytime soon.
We are creatures of habit, both good and bad. Habits can be defined as something we repetitively/regularly do. Imagine getting up in the morning and having a close, face to face conversation with someone who forgot to brush their teeth. You are immediately aware of the GOOD habit of brushing your teeth! In the same way, a kleptomaniac has cultivated a bad, sinful habit of habitually steeling. So, what does this have to do with Christian “fads” and the Bible?
The Bible Reading Habit
About 7 years ago I was encouraged to read through the Bible every year. I think my first thought was, “Have you seen how thick that thing is?”. Regardless of what I thought about it, I started reading. 7 years later, here I am, regularly reading through the Bible. This good habit has shaped my theology, connected prophecies to fulfilled events in Scripture, humbled me, encouraged me and prepared me to speak into others lives with God’s Word. I am amazed how clearly the books of the Bible fit together in my mind.
What’s amazing is that it never gets old. Yes, I have read the same things for 7 years and I will continue to read the same things until the day I die. God’s Word however, lives and breaths.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.
Combine that with the vacillating nature of man’s sinful heart and God’s Word always has the power to cut at heart of the reader.
So, if you are new to the idea of regular Bible reading, I would encourage you to do so. There are even Bible Reading apps to help guide you in this good, livelong habit of reading God’s Word. At present, I have been reading through a Bible reading plan by Robert Murray M’Cheyne. Oh, and remember, it doesn’t matter that it is the middle of August – now is a great time to start.
Recommended Resources
Bible Reading Plan: Robert Murray M’Cheyne
(http://www.mcheyne.info/calendar.pdf)
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