How many times have you read your favorite Book?

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 (New International Version)

On September 1, 2008, I set a goal for myself. I was going to read the Bible in its entirety. I was going to get through the whole thing no matter what it took.

There are books and on-line apps and all kinds of other suggestions out there about how to read the Bible. There are one year plans and two year plans and a myriad of other options. None of them seemed to fit me. So I just plowed into it.

On February 1, 2012, exactly three years and five months later, I was done. I had finished the Bible, cover to cover. And now what? I am going to start all over again.

Why, you ask? Why would you read the Bible again? Wasn’t once enough? It took you three years!

Well, for starters, there is a lot that I didn’t understand, a lot that I would like to reread to see if I get it this time. There are other passages that are so rich and moving, that I want to reabsorb them. Even though I have written them down in my notebook, I want to rediscover them and read them again in context. I also have five different versions of the Bible; maybe I should read through each version.

And as I shared in the introduction to the book I wrote, The Christmas Story in 40 Days, shouldn’t you want to continue to get to know the ones you love? If reading and rereading God’s word brings me closer to Him, shouldn’t I continue to keep His book open and within easy reach?

Lord, thank You for sharing Your word with us. Thank You for allowing us to grow closer to You, for being our Friend, eternally. Amen