"Thy Word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it."

MY DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up within me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of those of you who are saved. "God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." What the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? There is plainly a weight lying on the spirits of all good men, and a looking for some strange work of judgment coming upon this land. There is need now to ask that solemn question— "If in the land of peace wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence upon self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we shall be able to say like David—, "The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from thy law." "Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word." It has long been in my mind to prepare a scheme of Scripture reading, in which as many as were made willing by God might agree…and all might be feeding in the same portion of the green pasture at the same time. I am quite aware that such a plan is accompanied with many

THE DANGERS

1. Formality. We are such weak creatures that any regularly returning duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form. The tendency of reading the Word by a fixed rule may, in some minds, be to create this skeleton religion. This is to be the peculiar sin of the last days— "Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." Guard against this. Let the calendar perish rather than this rust eat up your souls.

2. Self-righteousness. Some, when they have devoted their set time to reading the Word, and accomplished their prescribed portion, may be tempted to look at themselves with self-complacency. Many, I am persuaded, are living without any Divine work on their soul — unpardoned, and unsanctified, and ready to perish — who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in the right hand.

3. Careless reading. Few tremble at the Word of God. Few, in reading it, hear the voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. Some, by having so large a portion, may be tempted to weary of it, as Israel did of the daily manna, saying—, "Our soul loatheth this light bread;" and to read it in a slight and careless manner. This would be fearfully provoking to God. Take heed lest that word be true of you— "Ye said, also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts."

4. A yoke too heavy to bear. Some may engage in reading with alacrity for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden grievous to be borne. They may find conscience dragging them through the appointed task without any relish of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw aside the fetter and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy. If there be so many dangers, why propose such a scheme at all? To this I answer, that the best things are accompanied with danger, as the fairest flowers are often gathered in the clefts of some dangerous precipice. Let us weigh

THE ADVANTAGES

…Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read. Often believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once in a very simple manner.

…Parents will have a regular subject upon which to examine their children and servants. It is much to be desired that family worship were made more instructive than it generally is. The mere reading of the chapter is often too like water split on the ground. Let it be read by every member of the family beforehand, and then the meaning and application drawn out by simple question and answer. The calendar will be helpful in this. Friends, also, when they meet, will have a subject for profitable conversation in the portions read that day. The meaning of difficult passages may be inquired from the more judicious and ripe Christians, and the fragrance of simpler Scriptures spread abroad.

…The pastor will know in what part of the pasture the flock are feeding. He will thus be enabled to speak more suitably to them on the Sabbath; and both pastor and elders will be able to drop a word of light and comfort in visiting from house to house, which will be more readily responded to.

…The sweet bond of Christian love and unity will be strengthened. We shall be often led to think of those dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, here and elsewhere, who agree to join with us in reading these portions. We shall oftener be led to agree on earth, touching something we shall ask of God. We shall pray over the same promises, mourn over the same confessions, praise God in the same songs, and be nourished by the same words of eternal life.

by Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Calvary Baptist Church 2010 Bible Reading Calendar

I revisit M’Cheyne’s words every year as I think on our spiritual disciplines and growth. His words still express my heart for you. In considering the kind of Bible reading plan that would be most helpful, my mind went back to one we used in 2006, and it did so for a couple of reasons. One, I still think it is very profitable to do a saturation kind of reading; and, two, I hope that this will coincide with a promotion at Twin Lakes Camp this year.

With that as a background, we are re-proposing a plan for 2010 in which we will read only 11 books of the Bible, but in which we will gain a much more thorough understanding of each of these books. While we would never underestimate or devalue the importance of reading through the entire Bible, we also recognize the value of reading the Bible in other ways, according to other plans. The goal is NOT to slacken the pace of Bible reading. We do not want you to slow way down! The goal is to read through each book as many times as possible in the month. I would encourage you to maintain at least a five-to-six-chapter-a-day pace. With some books, that will mean you read the whole book every day for a month. With others, you may read the whole book once in a week. I know you will not be able to do in-depth study if you are covering that many chapters every day. That is not the goal. This is for Bible reading, not Bible study. It will, however, greatly aid in your Bible knowledge and meditation. Your familiarity with a given book will give you an enhanced ability to study other books and passages, as the Bible has a unified, comprehensive message.

As your pastor, I am excited about what God will accomplish in your life, in your family, and in our congregation, through His Word in 2010.

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

By His Grace and To His Glory, Pastor Jeff