Christian society is greatly influenced by an army of persons, young and old, who take their stand on the personal evaluation of Scripture. Perhaps something ought to be done that is special to break the current habit of what amounts to hypocrisy, avoidance, growing secularity and claims of neutrality about spiritual life. That little dramatic gesture might well be that each day persons find a nugget of Scripture. Write it down, and put it in an open place for reference. Refer to it along the way, or until another nugget emerges and write it down to replace or accompany others in a list. The following is a starter kit for the first week. All verses for the week may be taken from one Bible book, or, as follows, no book repeated in the choices.
Monday’s: The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14.
Tuesday’s: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Wednesday’s: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5
Thursday’s: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:16.
Friday’s: But godliness, with contentment, is great gain. 1Timothy 6:6
Saturday’s: Do your best to present yourself to God, as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
Sunday’s: Finally, . . .whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8. (This magnificent verse calls for the affirmative life – open to creativity.)
Some persons choose a verse for each day. For the lazy among us, at least a verse for the week can be found. Failing that divine research, a person ought to pick up and rediscover a series from a previous week, the list of which was filed earlier in an envelope for reference. Each ought to be marked in a study Bible on the day it is chosen. Later review will arouse pleasant memories related to the choice. I followed this for a lengthy time beginning in the 1950s with the exchanges by mail that I enjoyed in the letters sent and received from Pat Zondervan, the publisher. He was a very busy man, but not too busy to be an excellent husband, parent, a faithful churchman and Christian, a complete business man, a contributing citizen, and an intense student of Scripture. He was, to me, an excellent model of a Christian, an achiever, a friend, a servant to others, a family mentor, and a person of vision for constructive purposes. Every letter carried his verse for the day. The company Pat and Bernie founded is the largest publisher of Bibles in the world.
Those who try this exercise will be surprised at the growth to spiritual maturity, and how satisfying the cultivation of self-control. It has a great side benefit of memorization of useful verses that become a part of a well-furnished Christian. In the flow of different translations and versions which has, without a generally acknowledged version for use, this simple exercise will serve in the cultivation of the spiritual mind which also serves in the practical living out of the mature Christian life. The plan ought to follow a time orientation that the Christian will keep – daily, weekly, monthly, and shared with others in matter of course. It carries commitment, education, and inspiration to life. On meeting, one Lee will say to another: This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
*Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020