For the Busy Student: Two Important Things

Dear Sam,

Your friend told me of the visit you had together. He said
that you were very busy with classes and in getting involved with your job. I
know he appreciated it, but was concerned as I am that it might take time away
from two very important things—private time with God reading in the Scriptures,
and fellowship with other believers. This fellowship includes such things as
private one-on-one fellowship with another Christian, and certainly a good
church.

If you have not read the New Testament, I really encourage
you to read it through, covering about 3 to 4 chapters a day. By reading 4
chapters a day you will finish the New Testament in two months; two chapters a
day—a little over four months. But the months go by anyhow, and you might as
well have read it all. Your faith will increase. Your anxiety will lessen. It
will be very good for you.

If you have read the New Testament through already this
year, I encourage you to do something like this: take one of the books, preferably
one of the short books like 1 John, which has five chapters, or 1 Peter, which
has five, or James, and just read the book through every day for a week. You
will get so much out of it the first time you read it, then more the second
time because it will reinforce what you read the day before, and you will see
some additional truths. This is a very good way to study. Read and reread right
in order, and you will begin to grasp and understand the meaning, and the
teaching of the book will become part of you—not just in your head, but really
part of your life. So when it comes to decisions or actions you make, they will
be biblical ones; they will be right ones.

In addition to this study, here is a plan for reading thewhole Bible through in the course of the schoolyear. It starts today.

God has looked after you so far, and I know that He will
continue to do so.

In Christ’s Love,

Jim Wilson