The Year of the Bible

January 5, 2026

There were three professionals sitting around talking about the oldest profession. The Doctor says, “Well, the Bible says that God took a rib out of Adam to make woman. Since that clearly required surgery, then the oldest profession is surely medicine.”

The Engineer shakes his head and replies, “No, no. The Bible also says that God created the world out of void and chaos. To do that, God must surely have been an engineer. Therefore, engineering is the oldest profession.”

The Politician smiles smugly and leans forward, saying, “Ahhh, who do you think created the Chaos?”

As we enter the new year, I find myself reflecting on a bold challenge I issued back in 2017. I declared it “The Year of the Bible”. Thousands read my articles each week, and I extend that call to you today. I again declare, this coming year, “The Year of the Bible”, and I invite you to answer the challenge.

I remember the first time I read the Bible all the way through, and the transforming affect it had on my understanding of the completeness of the Bible that can only be explained by the voice of God guiding each writer to share His word with the world. The Bible has approximately 40 authors who wrote over a period of 1500 years. That became miraculously clear to me as I spent the year reading and finding how much every chapter builds on the chapters previously read.

I also remember 2017 very well, because that was the year I committed to reading the Bible through every year, and have not missed a year since then. I choose special sections to study and preach on, but I find it is an important discipline for me, as a Christian, to read through the Bible every year.

Amid global chaos, political division, and personal struggles, God’s Word stands as an unchanging anchor. Isaiah 55:10-11 beckons, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

God’s Word isn’t passive. It transforms, accomplishes its purpose, brings joy and peace, reveals what true love and truth are. In my articles I strive to include accurate scripture texts to guide the insights I share each week. I am very careful not to try to cram a scripture into the article to make it mean what I want it to mean. Numerous articles through the decades started with one insight, but as I studied God’s word I was led in a different and more Biblically authoritative direction. I am not saying I have never misinterpreted God’s word. I am sure that has happened after thirty-five years of writing articles, but I work hard not to let it happen.

I know many think the Bible has inconsistencies and contradictions. For too many years I would have agreed with you, but back in 1985 God worked a miracle of healing through my prayers, and I promised God I would start doing ministry as if the Bible was true. As the years passed the truth claims of the Bible just kept stacking up, until I came to the place where I declared, “The Bible is always true. If I find something in the Bible that seems contradictory the problem is mine, not the Bible.” Since that time, I have found nothing but the wisdom of God in the words I read. It affects the choices I make, my preaching and teaching, my willingness to be used by God whenever, wherever, and however God desires to use me. It has truly changed my life and ministry.

Will you commit to reading it the Bible cover-to-cover in the coming year? There are plenty of resources available to map out a “One-year Through the Bible” reading plan. If you have questions one of my favorite resources is GotQuestions.com, or you can email me at alearley@lagrangepres.org. Expect transformation. Isaiah promises God’s Word won’t return empty.

Christmas celebrates love incarnate; make every day a celebration by immersing in His Word. What if this year became the year you truly knew God’s thoughts? What holds you back from committing to read through the Bible? Do you recall a time Scripture transformed you? Would you like to seek that daily? Who could join your Bible journey for accountability and discussion? How would reading God’s word exalt Him every day of your life? (To learn more about Al Earley or read previous articles, see www.lagrangepres.org. You can purchase my book, My Faith Journal, at Amazon.com, a compilation of 366 articles as a daily devotional. Check out my podcast on YouTube, called “My Faith Journey”).