72 hours

It takes on average 72 hours to read through the Bible.  That's a lot of reading, but very doable.  Just think, Reader's Digest reported last month that the average American spends 4and1/2 hours watching TV every day.  That's almost 70 whole days of TV a year!!!  If only 1/2 of that time was spent watching TV and the other have (2 hours and 15 min) given to reading the Bible we could read the entire Bible in 32 days.  In 10 years we could read throught the Bible almost 120 times.  In 40 years we could read the Bible almost 500 times!!!!

Most of us, however, won't read the Bible for 2.25 hours a day.  But did you realize that reading the Bible every year is easier than you might think.  The Bible can be read 6 days a week 15 minutes a day and be completed in a year for the average reader, or if you would like to get through it more quickly you can read the Bible in 90 days at 12 pages per day.
Some helpful hints to Bible reading. 
1. Don't start January 1st.  For some reason were not good at completeing our new year's resolutions. 
2.Start tomorrow. 
3. You might try reading the Bible in chronological order rather than Gen-Rev.  A good help there is the One Year Bible.
4. In some of the difficult passages listen to it being read.  How many times have we read to Numbers and stopped because of the geneolgies with names that are hard to pronounce.  This method is also good for those who read very slow.  I would also reccomend having your Bible open following along.
5. Read with a partner.  Either out loud or silently, and discuss what you have read.
6. If you miss a day don't beat yourself up, read a little extra the next two days.
7. Finally, PRAY everytime before you read that God would show wonderful things from His Word!

Imitation Christians

Imitation is a peculiar English word.  Imitaion was first used in the Latin language in 1502, derived from the word image.  However, when the word "imitation" is used in English it has a couple of different meanings. 

For example:
1. Imitation is used in a negative sense, in that, it is not authentic or real.  It's a fake.
2. Imitaion can also be used in the sense that it is a copy or duplicate of someone or something else.

When the followers of Jesus were called "Christians" in Antioch they were being called imitation Christs.  "Christian" means little Christ.  It was a slanderous remark that was being made.

When we read Hebrews 6:12 we are told to be "imitators"
 "...so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."(emphasis mine)

Also in Hebrews 13:7 it says, "Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (emphasis mine)

We are to be imitators, imitating the faith and patience (along with all other godly charateristics) of those who have already lived their life well. 

We are to be imitation Christians.  Not fake, or unauthentic, rather Christains that imitate those who have lived well already.  I think that the list of those who we should look to would be those who we know personally and have taught us God's word (Heb 13:7), and those who have gone on before us who we can only know by reading about their faith (Heb 11- 12:1).  Ultimately considering Jesus, (who we should know personally and by reading His autobiography) most of all, since he is the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:2).  Our faith begins with Jesus (Eph. 1:4) and is perfected by Him (Phil 2:12-13), but is aided by observing and learning also from those who have lived well in faith and patience.

Be an imitation Christian.  Find a good biography, and be filled with a joyful zeal to finish well.
I recomend a series of biographys by Dr. John Piper called The Swans are Not Silent.