2013 is the year the Episcopal Church, well, The Diocese of New Jersey anyway, has discovered reading the Bible. I was thrilled to hear the presentation in our minister’s meeting of last September because the reading and particularly the hearing of the Bible preached is God’s primary means of grace.

The cycle of local ministry has made me into a man of patterns and routines. I wasn’t always that way, but when you have a regular cycle of worship, Bible study, and sermon preparation week to week, Sunday to Sunday, that is what you become. 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. There have also been times when I have been swept away with the entire redemptive history of the Bible or fascinated by a particular biblical doctrine set out clearly before me as I return 1-2 times in a year to the same readings – the cumulative effect.

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, the 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.

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?

1. Commit together as a church or as a Christian family at home to the same Bible reading plan.
2. Pray for each other that guilt may be avoided and that the Holy Spirit may bless the reader.

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 God’s grace and a way to grow into Christ-likeness, not a burden for guilt or grounds of sinful self-righteousness.