M'Cheyne Bible Reading 2020

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." —Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (The Shema) 

Since my days in seminary I've been reading through the Bible each year, a habit Columbia Biblical Seminary instilled in me. This year I'm excited to read through it a different way then I've done before, using the M'Cheyne bible reading plan. 

Robert Murray M’Cheyne lived from 1813–1843. He prepared a plan for Bible reading to take readers through the New Testament and Psalms twice a year, and through the rest of the Bible once each year. There are approximately 4 chapters per day in this plan. The plan provides two daily readings labeled “Family” and two daily readings labeled “Secret” (personal). He intended that the Scripture listings in the “Family” columns be read in family or group devotions, and those in “Personal” columns be read privately, in personal devotions. 

Another first is my leading of others through the process (my family: Karen, Jeffrey and Jasmine). This is a great opportunity to embrace the role as husband and spiritual leader in the home (Ephesians 5:21–33). As a family we will make every attempt to read the FAMILY readings together and then Karen and I, throughout the day, will have conversations with the kids about the personal readings we're encouraged to have on our own. 

Around 200 copies of this plan were sent to our family and friends in our 2019 Christmas card. I've encouraged anyone who is following along with the plan to drop me an e-mail whenever they come across a passage that was special to them as a way of mutually encouraging one another throughout 2020. If anyone does write, I'll post those special thoughts here along with my own. 

If you would like a copy of the M'Cheyne Bible Reading plan, email me at pastorj@kapahulubible.org

Special Thoughts from January 3 | Personal Reading Ezra 3 and Acts 3

In Ezra 3:3 it is written: 

"So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of he peoples of the lands"

My thought when reading was, "It's good that they did what they were called to do--rebuild the temple. However, something seems off--terror doesn't seem to be the most ideal motivator."

In Acts 3 the familiar story of the lame man that Peter and John came upon is recorded. It was so cool to have the "less-than-ideal" motivator so quickly corrected and demonstrated. 

"And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened, With a leap he stood up-rights and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God."  

Picture the lame man walking behind Peter and John into the temple, after every third or fourth step leaping and praising God for what He had done.

My thought to "chew" on for the day will be: "What is my motivation?" and "How am I responding to all that He has done for me?"