Our church is currently reading the Persecuted Bible in a Year from Voice of the Martyrs.
I’ve never used a “read the Bible in one year” plan before.
It’s been interesting.
I’ve used my own Bible plan in the past: a chapter from the Old Testament, a psalm, a chapter from the New Testament.
Since I like to read the notes at the bottom of the Bible, it takes me longer than a year to read through the whole book. I use three bookmarks.
The Persecuted Bible in a Year, so far, features an often lengthy passage from the Old Testament (sometimes more than one chapter), a section of a Psalm, a short passage from Proverbs, and a New Testatament scene.
In this particular version’s format, each day’s reading has a header with the date (handy for keeping track of reading progress).
Those headers include a two-four sentence story of a believer persecuted for their faith.
That means, I begin by praying for a persecuted individual before reading the Bible passages.
What have I noticed about the persecuted believers?
The same thing I saw in God is Red.
Persecuted believers–no matter where in the world they lived, nor what they suffered–clung to one concept.
“Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 18:20 ESV).
Jesus is not the only one who said that. God himself made the same guarantee–some 100 times in the Bible.
The February 24 reading provided a unique, yet typical, story:
I read something like this and I slump back in my chair.
How could I possibly do that?
Where does the strength come from?
You know–from the Lord–or, to paraphrase Eric Liddel in Chariots of Fire and Psalm 75:6: “ For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God.”
But, we also rely on Mark 13:10-12:
The gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 13:10-12
I am awed by my brothers and sisters living in such difficult circumstances.
So, I pray.
The effects of the church to read the same passages each day?
Our pastor gave out 100 copies of the Persecuted Bible in a Year. I didn’t want to own yet another Bible, and this one in the New Living Translation (NLT).
But, I like to change the Bible versions I read every decade or so, and I figured this one would match everyone else.
(My husband picked up a pamphlet with the readings–and stayed in his own Bible).
This translation isn’t as rigorous, shall we say, as my English Standard Version (ESV) or the version from a decade ago, the New King James (NKJV).
But reading familiar scriptures from a different text, makes things stand out I’d normally read past.
Not to mention the discipline of having to read Leviticus . . .
It’s been a long time. I’m surprised by the implication of what I’m reading.
I always ask the Holy Spirit to show me what I need to see from a particular text.
Today in Numbers was the answer to the question I’d asked five minutes before.
Got to love how the Holy Spirit convicts with a “regular” Bible reading, don’t you?
But, with the whole congregation reading the same sections, my Bible study ladies often relate what they read that morning or over the last few days to our text.
(We’re in Job right now. His time period was even earlier than Leviticus and Numbers!)
In my Sunday school class, where the topic rotates by the guest speaker, one teacher just uses the week’s reading. Lots of questions get asked–and answered.
My thoughts on the persecuted
Many mornings I feel gutted when I read their stories.
Some go to their death in the confidence they won’t be forsaken.
And as in God is Red, they cling to Jesus as the only way to eternal life.
They’ll be with him in Paradise soon.
I honor their faith.
I pray for them–and for myself.
And, I thank God for a Bible whose teachings will not return void.
No matter which version.
Thanks be to God.
Tweetables
Reactions to reading the Persecuted-Bible-in-a-year. Click to Tweet
Lessons learned from a church reading a Bible-in-a-Year. Click to Tweet
Thoughts? Reactions? Lurker?