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If there was something you could do to make 2021 a better year than 2020, would you do it? What if I told you that there was something you could do? What if I told you it would take less than thirty minutes a day?

Perhaps you’ve already guessed where I’m going with this. My challenge for each and every member of Poquoson Baptist Church (and everyone else who spends time reading this blog!) is to commit to spend meaningful and consistent time in God’s Word every day in 2021. Many of you scroll through social media every day, or watch the evening news every night, or (if you’re really old school!) read a newspaper every morning. All this intake isn’t necessarily bad, but how does it stack up against your time in God’s Word?

In Psalm 119, the psalmist delights in the beauty of God’s Word. Scripture is beautiful because it exposes error (v. 29), gives life (37) gives hope (49), creates thanksgiving (62), gives wisdom (100), keeps us from sin (115), heightens our longing for heaven (123), encourages us (147), gives peace (165), and more. It’s no wonder that the psalmist celebrates in verse 103: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

With beauty like this, we’d be fools to neglect God’s Word. And that’s exactly what happens to us when dust grows on the covers of our Bibles. Let that not be true for you in 2021. I’m inviting every reader to join me in this Bible reading plan next year. It organizes the Old Testament (mostly) chronologically, spreads out the Gospels throughout the year so we’re regularly returning to the life and ministry of Jesus, and includes two catch-up days every week for those who find their busyness often deters them in their Bible reading.

For the seasoned Bible reader, I’d encourage you to read through the entire plan with me next year. If you’re just starting out, consider reading through the New Testament portions every day and you’ll complete the entire New Testament next year. If you have your own preferred Bible reading plan, that’s fine as well. But whatever you do, have a plan to dive deep into God’s Word next year.