by Mark J Ward

“for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.’ (1 Timothy 4:8 NASB)

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

In Matthew 4, speaking of Jesus, “2And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”(Matthew 4:2-4 NASB)

A daily reading Bible program schedule is a great form of spiritual exercise!

Here are just a few of the benefits we could realize from such an effort:

– reading what God wants us to know, including words by which we can be saved (Genesis 1; Jude 3; Mark 16:15,16; John 6:68; Acts 11:14; I Cor. 15:2),

– we can become closer to God if we read carefully, discern properly, and then choose to live our lives as God has revealed teaches.

– we will be putting good things into our minds in this daily activity that is beneficial and pleasing to God (as opposed to the things the devil wants us to think about throughout the day) and

– we can become stronger spiritually, as “good spiritual exercise with good spiritual food” is part of living the life God says makes us strong in Him!

(The following is an adapted “Read Through the New Testament in a Month Plan” which I found and adjusted a little bit for your consideration. Please note that this is a 30-day reading schedule, so in the month of February, you will need to read a little more than the schedule calls for in order to finish “on time” if you like.)

A BIBLE READING PLAN ‘THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 30 DAYS‘

1. Matthew 1-9
2. Matthew 10-15 
3. Matthew 16-22 
4. Matthew 23-28 
5. Mark 1-9
6. Mark 10-16
7. Luke 1-7
8. Luke 8-11
9. Luke 12-18
10. Luke 19-24
11. John 1-7
12. John 8-13
13. John 14-22
14. Acts 1-7
15. Acts 8-14
16. Acts 15-21
17. Acts 22-28
18. Romans 1-8
19. Romans 9-16
20. 1 Corinthians 1-10
21. 1 Corinthians 11-16
22. 2 Corinthians 1-13
23. Galatians – Ephesians
24. Philippians – 2 Thessalonians 
25. 1 Timothy – Philemon
26. Hebrews
27. James – 2 Peter 
28. 1 John – 3 John 
29. Revelation 1-12 
30. Revelation 13-22

While some who have never done this before might be thinking, “I can’t do that! That’s too much!”

I gently, lovingly reply, ” “Can’t never could do anything!’ Why not try and see just how little time this takes away from other disposable time we have (myself included, in some cases) such as: daily television time, daily surfing the net for news and leisure reading time, daily video game time, daily non-religious book reading time, daily texting time, daily internet non-religious chat room time, daily sports and/or beauty magazine reading time, etc., etc.?”

We never know until we give it a try. And, whether we ever engage in a Read through the New Testament in a month in our lifetime, we still are under obligation before God to grow spiritually and be good stewards of our time always… (See 2 Peter 3:18; I Peter 4:1-11; Ephesians 5:1-17).

“Stay Well, Stay Strong in the Lord, and In the Power of His Might!” (Ephesians 6).

And, thanks for reading!

P.S. And…not to neglect spiritual instruction about physical exercise in our lives, there will be posts in the future, Lord willing, on the requirement from God for us to take care of our physical bodies (yes, even to include some physical exercise).