Every wise and seasoned Christian leader I have ever heard has told me the same thing: You need the daily discipline of getting up early and reading the Bible and praying for an hour. I do not deny the wisdom of this advice, but I have often thought that we seek out a “one-size-fits-all” solution to spiritual growth too easily. How many mornings have I fallen asleep while reading my Bible? How many mornings have I forced my way through 4 chapters of the Bible and walked away wondering what I just read? Should I love God’s Word? Absolutely! Should I read I daily? Yes! Do I need to do that in exactly the same way at exactly the same time every day or else beat myself up for my lack of discipline?

I have been following Robert Murray McCheyne’s Bible reading plan for the past couple of years. I have struggled at times with “keeping up” with the daily readings and at other times with feeling like I was just “going through the motions” of my daily spiritual check-list.

I am not, by nature, a man of set routines. I don’t like doing the same things over-and-over again, day after day. I have a very hard time sticking with regular set patterns of life and, when I do, they quickly feel lifeless and dull. A Christian counselor friend of mine tried to offer me some encouragement years ago by telling me this was just my personality and I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. I need variety and spontaneity in my life just as surely as others need routine. He said one was not better than the other.

The encouragement of my friend was half-received by me. I did not deny the full reality of what he said, but I also have never been able to shake the guilty feeling when my Bible reading is rushed, is pushed off until later in the day, feels lifeless and empty or doesn’t happen at all on a particular day due to any one of a number of circumstances.

Every wise and seasoned Christian leader I have ever heard has told me the same thing: You need the daily discipline of getting up early and reading the Bible and praying for an hour. I do not deny the wisdom of this advice, but I have often thought that we seek out a “one-size-fits-all” solution to spiritual growth too easily. How many mornings have I fallen asleep while reading my Bible? How many mornings have I forced my way through 4 chapters of the Bible and walked away wondering what I just read?

Should I love God’s Word? Absolutely! Should I read I daily? Yes! Do I need to do that in exactly the same way at exactly the same time every day or else beat myself up for my lack of discipline?

Here, the advice of Robert Murray McCheyne himself is very helpful. In the preface to his Bible reading plan, written in 1842, he offers some advice on the dangers of a daily Bible reading plan such as his. Yes, dangers . . .

I am quite aware that such a plan is accompanied with many 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 a 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 of 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 their 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 to 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.

What wise and helpful words! And yet, we do not need to throw away the discipline of daily Bible reading.

Having reviewed some of the dangers of the use of an established daily Bible reading plan, Robert Murray McCheyne went on to explain the benefits for a family and a church community if we all follow the same Bible reading plan together –

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.

(1.) The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. – The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all equally Divine, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete Christians.

(2.) 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.

(3.) 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 spilt on the ground. Let it be read by every member of the family before-hand, 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.

(4.) 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.

(5.) 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 those 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.

So, how do we take advantage of the benefits without suffering the harm of the dangers?

I think we can do so by . . .

1. Committing together as a community to the same Bible reading plan
2. Praying for each other and encouraging each other and
3. Not getting over-burdened with guilt if we miss a day or don’t read all of a day’s reading or don’t have a wonderfully spiritual experience in each day’s reading.

If we do this and follow the suggestions McCheyne gives above, we can enjoy the fruit and avoid the poison. Remember, it’s a means of grace and a way to grow, not a burden for guilt or grounds of self-righteousness.

One more thing: This may seem like an odd post for the middle of February, but I think the best day to start a reading plan is always today, no matter what day that may be. Seriously, with a little bit of work, a church can revise a yearly Bible reading plan and start it together on March 1st or any time that seems appropriate.

Jason A. Van Bemmel is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Faith PCA in Cheraw, S.C. This article appeared on his blog Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor and is used with permission.