In this Sunday’s sermon, we’ll see that God asks Joshua to do something that seems strange. God wants the people to build a pile of stones. The reasoning was simple. The stones were to be a reminder of what God had done in helping the Israelites to cross the Jordan river into the Promised Land (Joshua 4:6-7). They were to help the people to remember God.

God’s command to Joshua carries an assumption: the greatest enemy of faith is forgetting.

That’s what happened to the Israelites. A generation after entering the Promised Land, the people forgot about God. They no longer remembered all that God had done for them in rescuing them from slavery and giving them the land (Judges 2:10-11).

Their problem can also be our problem. We so easily forget. That means we need to do things to remember who God is and what He has done for us.

My suggestion is not to build a pile of stones (although that might be helpful for you). Instead, it’s to cultivate a Bible reading habit that helps you to remember God and to grow in your understanding and love of him. Maybe you have a habit that is effective. But maybe you don’t, and the start of a new year is an opportunity to start a habit (or to start again).

When deciding on a bible reading plan, I have two further suggestions. First, make your plan realistic and achievable. Don’t make a plan that is too hard for you to keep. Second, use a resource that actually gets you to look at the bible text, not someone’s musings about life or interesting anecdotes.

Looking for some resources? Here are some that I can happily recommend. If you prefer something more in-depth, you could try the Reading the Bible with John Stott guides or the God’s Word for You series. For a daily Bible-reading plan, try the 5 Day Bible Reading Program or Don Carson’s ‘For the Love of God’  (I use this one). If you’re still stuck, try these recommendations.

Whatever plan you choose, in 2021 remember to remember God!