My friend David Wheaton, the host of the Christian Worldview radio broadcast, recently interviewed Abner Chou, the President of the Master’s University and one of the translators of the LSB (Legacy Standard Bible). David’s question about how Abner went from thinking the Bible is shallow and boring to cherishing, obeying, understanding, and loving it is relevant as we move into the New Year. While you will find a Bible reading plan here daily, there are many good plans to choose from. I challenge you to choose one and do it! However, I think it’s important for you to hear how Abner responded to David’s question about his change in attitude about the Bible and how he studied it.

“The key, maybe there’s two, and the first one is to treasure God’s Word. You have to read it; you have to jump in. I remember when growing up, I struggled to practice violin and piano. I played it for a little bit of time. My mom would say, ‘Hey, the hardest thing to do is to get started. Once you get started, once you’re in it, and you’re investigating it, you’re practicing, you’re going over the music, then you’re in it, and you’ll love it, but the hardest thing is to get started.’ I think the same thing, by analogy, is true with a Bible study. We buy a Bible, and we want to love it. But how do you have affection toward the Lord and His Word? While there’s no substitute other than just jumping in, opening the Bible, sitting down, putting your eyes on the page, and reading and thinking about it, there is no substitute. There’s a discipline to that. At the same time, of course, we need to read it the right way. And fundamental to that, often our opening question when we read the Bible is, What’s in it for me?