Old vs New
After thinking about doing it most of my life this year in January I made a commitment to reading the entire Bible by December. I admit there were large chunks of the OT that I had never read and as a general rule reading the Bible was not one of my stronger disiplines. Wanting to change this I figured what better way to get into a daily reading habit and just do it. The plan I found was really simple, read 3 chapters a day Monday thru Saturday and 5 chapters on Sunday. They even send daily e-mails to help you track where you are supposed to be.
As of Monday I finally finished the OT, and that is ahead of schedule. This really gave me some perspective on just how big the OT is in comparison to the NT. 10 months versus 2 months. With this in mind why is it that so often we place very little emphasis on the OT? I have heard people say that there is no salvation in the OT. I think my bs meter is going off. After just finishing it how can you not see that the whole thing is about how God wants his creation to be saved and that he is going to do whatever it takes, time and again to see that accomplished?
I will admit that there were some parts that seemed a bit "dry" and I thought I would never get through but I did not skip anything. And there were some nights where I probably did not get much from that days reading but now looking back on it I see that rather than detailed small pictures, I have a big picture to reference. I am surprised at what a different perspective I now have.
As I move into the NT it is in many ways like reading it fresh for the first time. Knowing that God had been promising a messiah for hundreds of years (and actually reading those promises instead of just "knowing" about them) and then seeing his arrival almost gives me goosebumps while reading the first chapters of Matthew. I know this may sound stupid but in many ways it is like a movie trilogy. You have a big build up and then the moment you've been waiting for arrives and the hero arrives to save the day. Jesus as Aragorn?
If you have not done so before I encourage you to do a yearly reading plan and see how it changes you. If you have let me know what your experience was.
The Chad
As of Monday I finally finished the OT, and that is ahead of schedule. This really gave me some perspective on just how big the OT is in comparison to the NT. 10 months versus 2 months. With this in mind why is it that so often we place very little emphasis on the OT? I have heard people say that there is no salvation in the OT. I think my bs meter is going off. After just finishing it how can you not see that the whole thing is about how God wants his creation to be saved and that he is going to do whatever it takes, time and again to see that accomplished?
I will admit that there were some parts that seemed a bit "dry" and I thought I would never get through but I did not skip anything. And there were some nights where I probably did not get much from that days reading but now looking back on it I see that rather than detailed small pictures, I have a big picture to reference. I am surprised at what a different perspective I now have.
As I move into the NT it is in many ways like reading it fresh for the first time. Knowing that God had been promising a messiah for hundreds of years (and actually reading those promises instead of just "knowing" about them) and then seeing his arrival almost gives me goosebumps while reading the first chapters of Matthew. I know this may sound stupid but in many ways it is like a movie trilogy. You have a big build up and then the moment you've been waiting for arrives and the hero arrives to save the day. Jesus as Aragorn?
If you have not done so before I encourage you to do a yearly reading plan and see how it changes you. If you have let me know what your experience was.
The Chad
posted by The Chad at 6:54 AM
1 Comments:
O, The Chad is seeing Big Picture theology. That's because hed da man
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