I feel like today is a day of finishings and beginnings. Many just started a new school year and are getting back to a set routine after the long summer break. And in Israel, we will be celebrating the beginning of a Jewish New Year with Rosh Hashanah and the Fall Feasts.
And of finishings, today I just finished reading my entire Bible through in only eleven months! And the final passage was about Moses finishing his ministry and passing the baton to Joshua. This was a daunting challenge for Joshua. The Lord sent him encouragement for the task of filling Moses’ shoes (or sandals I should say) no less than ten times between Deuteronomy 1 and Joshua 10.
Have you ever read the whole Bible through from beginning to end? I think this is as daunting a challenge for many today as it was for Joshua to succeed Moses. But when Joshua finally got the message, he became unstoppable and fully engaged in the Lord’s calling until the day he died. And reading the Bible is God’s way of giving us the encouragement to step up to His calling, just as He did for Joshua so many years ago. When you read the Bible daily, it germinates within your spirit to help you too become unstoppable and fully engaged for the Lord.
Tomorrow I will begin reading my Bible through again. Would you like to join me? I have an easy-to-follow Bible reading program that I have developed over many years of doing just that—reading through the Bible. You can find this program posted on this website under the Bible Reading Plans tab. It is available in a variety of formats and it is free to download and print for your personal use. (Be sure to also read the Bible Reading Guide that explains how the program works for the best results.) (Or click here to go directly to that page.)
As Moses closed his ministry with a beautiful psalm, he left us with a few empowering words that I would like to pass along to you…
LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations…Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God…For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past…So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom…Oh satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days…And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us…
These verses are found in Psalm 90. I challenge you to read the whole psalm for all the good nuggets it contains. And maybe this can be your springboard to begin reading the Bible through completely (however long it takes you to finish it).
May the work of your hands be established today. May your day be productive and blessed from beginning to end! And may every day of the coming year be filled with the reminders of God’s grace and goodness as you read through your Bible!
–dmrf