Our daily diet

If it is really true that 21st century Christians are not as spiritually strong and vibrant as they should be, one reason may well be a poor daily intake of nourishing spiritual food.

Our spiritual appetite can be undermined by pre-occupation with entertainment, sport, hobbies or material things.

Furthermore, life today can be very demanding. Pressures of work and family seem to be so time-absorbing and physically and mentally draining that daily Bible reading, prayer and meditation are squeezed to a minimum or lost altogether. Too many Christians seem to survive on the 'spoon feeding' they receive twice or even only once on a Sunday, with perhaps an occasional top-up at a mid-week meeting. The consequence is a loss of ability to feed ourselves, even on pre-cooked meals - material produced by others.

Which notes?

This situation has to be taken into account when we try to evaluate the various Bible reading helps available to us. At the same time circumstances differ. For example, there is the commuter looking for an easily digested spiritual strengthener before catching the 6.30; or the housewife setting aside a time of devotion between chores. There is the single parent with hardly a moment to breathe, or those who are retired with time on their hands (!), not to speak of family prayers with or without children. Whatever our situation, for the sake of our spiritual welfare we must find time to spend with the Lord each day.

Any attempt to put Bible reading schemes into categories soon crashes out, not only because of the differing circumstances, but because of confusion in the evangelical world. What do we mean by 'evangelical', 'charismatic' or 'reformed'? To give any notes these identities may not be altogether helpful. Then again, as a 'reformed Baptist', is material from other stables of no value at all to me? Not only so, but when Jack Spratt, who hates 'fat', wants to share devotions with his wife, who abhors 'lean', we have another kind of problem.

Bearing all this in mind, I hope these comments will help to encourage a much wider practice of daily Bible reading, prayer and meditation. The order has no significance at all!

Our Daily Bread

A follow-up to American 'Radio Bible Class' based on the NKJV. The brief selected daily Bible reading is not explained, but illustrated thematically with an evangelical stance. Homely and easily digested but not sufficient in itself for spiritual growth. A schedule of Bible readings is suggested each day for covering the Bible in a year.

Every Day with Jesus

Short consecutive readings from the NIV, with succinct explanation, application and a brief prayer. The basic material takes very little time; its usefulness can be extended by using the suggested readings for further study and the questions posed. The latter could be useful in family prayers. The charismatic origin (CWR) is occasionally evident. The 'Cover to Cover' one year chronological Bible reading scheme comes from the same source. CWR also produces notes for young people on selected passages in modern style and language.

Scripture Union

Scripture Union offers a selection of Bible reading helps to meet the needs of a variety of ages and experience. Everything is professionally produced, based on the NIV and easily digested. 'Disclosure' for teenagers is on their wavelength in content and language.

Three sets of notes, 'Daily Bread', Encounter with God' and 'Closer to God', differ very little from each other. They all deal with consecutive readings while the latter two give schemes of daily readings covering the whole Bible in a year. Mostly helpful if not entirely to the taste of the reformed.

Geneva Bible Notes

The daily readings are consecutive but vary in length. There is always a detailed exposition and for this reason cannot be rushed. Published by Grace Publications Trust, the notes have a reformed stance and there is usually a practical application. The version used depends on the writer, as does the length and style.

Daily Bible Notes

Produced by Pastor A.F. Taylor of Chelmsleywood Reformed Baptist Church, these notes might be described as a simpler version of the 'Geneva Notes'. They are based on the NKJV and would be especially useful to new believers.

Explore

Produced by The Good Book Company, here are consecutive Bible readings and notes in modern style and applications, intended for 15 minutes of intake. Presumably prayer time is in addition! The same publishers have two schemes for young people, 'Discover' and 'The Ichthus File'. Both are in the modern youth idiom, the former possibly at a younger age. Selection would depend on taste and educational level.

IBRA (International Bible Reading Association)

This material is produced in two books, each of which has notes on daily Bible readings covering a year, and prayers. In 'Word for Today' there are rays of light, but these are negatived by predominant liberal theology and unreliable biblical interpretation. 'Light for our Path' is in the same mould, slanted for young people or new Christians.

BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship)

The BRF produces three schemes of consecutive Bible reading notes. 'New Daylight' prints out the reading for each day and the notes are easily digested. The versions used range through NRSV (abridged), NIV, NJB (abridged) and NEB. 'Day by Day with God' is written with women in mind, but to this mere male seems rather unflatteringly superficial! 'Guidelines' contains in-depth studies requiring more time and thought. The Anglican roots of BRF are very obvious with a liberal evangelical flavour throughout.

Strong enough?

But the question now arises, is the daily use of one of these helps a sufficient spiritual diet to make us strong enough to meet the challenges and temptations of modern life? I do not believe that our heavenly Father is a slave-driver, determined to make our lives even more stressful than they are already, but it must be right for us to ask ourselves if we can improve our intake of spiritual food. At the very least, our practice should reflect the Old Testament pattern of a morning and evening sacrifice. Many people in our church have testified to the blessing they had in doing a scheme taking them through the Bible in a year.
Quite apart from specific times of Bible reading and prayer, it would be really good if we spent time with some of the more accessible Bible commentaries. Despite his formal education at a village school finishing when he was 12 years old, my father's regular diet was Matthew Henry's commentary, and then for a special treat he would dip into a page or two of John Owen! Our pastor recently told us how earlier in his Christian life he spent every Wednesday night for six months reading Hodge's commentary on Romans. How else will there arise a generation of robust believers able to defeat our subtle sophisticated enemy?

A look at the Bible reading notes on offer