Harbor’s elders are challenging the church to read through the entire Bible in a year (Old Testament once, New Testament twice). This is a big commitment, and it comes with some dangers:
- Duty. Any kind of disciplined action can quickly turn into a dry, lifeless duty,“having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).You’ll be tempted to start seeing the Bible as a burden, rather than a joy.
- Pride. When you’re able to successfully make it through Leviticus and Numbers, you’ll feel pretty good about yourself. You’ll be tempted to look down on all the slackers who couldn’t do it.
- Self-righteousness. Anytime you achieve some spiritual accomplishment, it’s easy to think God owes you something for it. You’ll be tempted to expect greater reward from God, rather than seeing his reward in what he reveals through your disciplined study of his word.
- Carelessness. When there is so much Scripture to cover each day, you’ll be tempted to mindlessly skim over incredibly rich passages. While a superficial understanding of some passages is all you’ll be able to get in order to gain a wider vision for God’s story, you’ll also be tempted to view God’s word lightly.
If you’re joining us in this challenge, start praying now that God would help you weed out the roots of these dangers, and instead experience the Word of God as “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)