The Word for 2026 is: ‘Begin’
Nancy Kennedy
A few weeks ago, my pastor announced that we are going to read the Bible together as a church.
He gave two options: the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, or just the New Testament.
I signed up for the New Testament only — because of Leviticus.
I’ve never been able to read through that Old Testament book with all its detailed instructions for proper
sacrifices, regulations about clean and unclean foods, and what to do about boils and mildew, among a
thousand other things that have no relevance to 21st-century life.
I imagine there’s something in Leviticus that’s beneficial to my soul, but I haven’t been able to stay awake long
enough to find out.
Here’s the truth: In the past 45-plus years I’ve read the Bible (minus Leviticus) many times — but not
consistently. Not daily.
Years ago, a woman called me about speaking at her church’s women’s event and asked rather brusquely,
“How much time do you spend in the Word every day?”
My face got hot and my heart pounded. I gulped and said, as lightheartedly as I could, “Oh, probably not as
much as I should.”
The conversation went downhill from there. She didn’t call back, and I didn’t get the gig.
Sometimes when people post pictures of their open Bible and a cup of coffee on social media, with a pithy
caption like Can’t start my day without either of these!, I feel that same familiar shame.
I don’t want to feel that way about Bible reading. I want to love it so much that I can’t start my day without it.
But I’m just not there. Yet.
A Christianity Today article once asked, “If Leviticus or Jude suddenly disappeared from Scripture, would we
notice?”
The author, Ted Olsen, wrote: “When the early church fathers spoke or wrote, they breathed the language of
Scripture. They could not greet each other without quoting Jesus or Paul. They used Scripture not just to refer
to God, but to describe their interpersonal relationships, daily tasks — their entire world.
“To ask them to speak without reference to Scripture would be like asking us to speak without using words with
the letter e.”
If Leviticus fell out of my Bible, I might notice it missing, but it wouldn’t make much difference. But I would miss
the tiny book of Jude, especially its rich benediction at the end:
“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and
with great joy….”
Able to keep me from falling.
He presents me before His glorious presence.
Without fault — blameless and unblemished.
And with great joy. Triumphant joy and unspeakable delight. (Jude 24, Amplified Bible)
“To our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ our Master be all glory and majesty… now and to the
end of all time. Yes.” (Jude 25, The Message)
I really do love the Word of God when I take time to digest it. I just haven’t taken the time — at least not
regularly.
But I’ve signed up to read the Bible every day in 2026 with others in my church, so I’m going to begin.
Who knows? I might just be surprised to find that I can’t start my day without it.
Contact Nancy Kennedy at 352-564-2927 (leave a message) or email at nkennedy@chronicleonline.com.
