In just a few days, the calendar will turn not just to another page but another year. It will do so in what certainly seems like a world gone mad. In 2020, we began the Covid journey. In 2022, the world watched with horror as Russia moved into Ukraine. And then, on October 7th of this year, horror gripped us all as Hamas invaded Israel. The aftermath of that day casts no doubt on a suggestion that our world has gone mad.
When the clock strikes twelve and 2024 begins, our world will not have gotten better. And for all those who call themselves a Christ-follower, perspective will be needed. There is nothing that gives (or will ever give) better perspective than God’s Word. This year at Journey onWord, we’ve decided on a theme of “Let the Old Become New” as we take a year-long journey through the Old Testament. Truth be told, most people who call themselves Christians focus most of their attention on the New Testament (me included). But we don’t want to miss the enormous value of what God gives us in the Old.
Recently, in viewing an article from author Charles Swindoll entitled “Reading the Old Testament for all it’s Worth,” the following words resonated with me:
As a young Jewish boy, Jesus heard the truths of our Creator and of His people’s amazing history delivered in story form by reading and learning the Old Testament. Stories were vital to passing along the Jewish heritage of faith.
In our modern day, these fascinating stories too often remain tucked away in the “white pages” of our Bibles, pages so little used that they look brand new. In many Bibles they stay stuck together. How unfortunate, since there is a wonderful timelessness about the great stories of the Old Testament. God in all His wisdom as our Creator knew all about human beings when He commissioned the writing of the Old Testament: we remember truth better when it’s placed before us in story form.
I have discovered in my walk with Christ that there is nothing quite like the Old Testament to help me gain an understanding of our heavenly Father, the living God. It was through the Old Testament that I first gained an appreciation for who God is and what He does.
Would you consider “letting the Old become New again” by taking a Journey with us through the Old Testament in 2024? Our plan starts on January 1st and uses our 5 day per week reading model throughout the year (our goal in this model is to give reflection or catch-up days on the weekends). The 2024 reading plan will be posted to our journeyonWord.com website on 12/31, but a link is being provided below for early access for you as a subscriber. Our deep and sincere thanks to all those who began or are still faithfully following 2023’s Daily Bible Reading Plan. And whether you did or didn’t or are brand new to our humble site, we pray you’ll consider taking a journey through Scripture with us and let the Old become new in 2024!
In God’s unfailing love,
Mike, Genel and the Journey onWord Team
journey onWord with us 
Thank you. 2023 has been an encouragement to me as I have walked through the New Testament. In my Precept studies I have learned just out important the Old Testament is to understanding. Telling the stories enlightens and brightens my Bible study classes so thank you for this year’s focus.
By: Jane McEwen on December 28, 2023
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