This is something i have never done and i am only writing this blog as one of my recent visits to my local Waterstones i saw a book which struck my eye immediately, i usually only go in for a browse cause the books are generally overpriced but man is the air conditioning not the most amazingly refreshing experience whilst in town?

Any way the book is called 'The Year of Living Biblically' by A.J Jacobs. After reading some reviews online i got a grasp of some of the things he done in that year which i will list in just a few seconds.

An excerpt from the book:

"As I write this, I have a beard that makes me resemble Moses. Or Abe Lincoln. Or Ted Kaczynski. I've been called all three.

It's not a well-manicured, socially acceptable beard. It's an untamed mass that creeps up toward my eyeballs and drapes below my neckline.

I've never allowed my facial hair to grow before, and it's been an odd and enlightening experience. I've been inducted into a secret fraternity of bearded guys -- we nod at each other as we pass on the street, giving a knowing quarter smile. Strangers have come up to me and petted my beard, like it's a Labrador retriever puppy or a pregnant woman's stomach.

I've suffered for my beard. It's been caught in jacket zippers and been tugged on by my surprisingly strong two-year-old son. I've spent a lot of time answering questions at airport security.

I've been asked if I'm named Smith and sell cough drops with my brother. ZZ Top is mentioned at least three times a week. Passersby have shouted "Yo, Gandalf!" Someone called me Steven Seagal, which I found curious, since he doesn't have a beard.

I've battled itch and heat. I've spent a week's salary on balms, powders, ointments, and conditioners. My beard has been a temporary home to cappuccino foam and lentil soup. And it's upset people. Thus far, two little girls have burst into tears, and one boy has hidden behind his mother.

But I mean no harm. The facial hair is simply the most noticeable physical manifestation of a spiritual journey I began a year ago.

My quest has been this: to live the ultimate biblical life. Or more precisely, to follow the Bible as literally as possible. To obey the Ten Commandments. To be fruitful and multiply. To love my neighbor. To tithe my income. But also to abide by the oft-neglected rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers. To stone adulterers. And, naturally, to leave the edges of my beard unshaven (Leviticus 19:27). I am trying to obey the entire Bible, without picking and choosing."


Whilst i am not advocating the position that most hard line dispensational thinkers take in approach to the law of God i will proceed by stating that we should be able to keep non ceremonial law, since that we are saved by the Grace of God we should as believers endeavor to keep the words of the Lord as literally as possible whilst always taking into consideration obvious times when it is clearly symbolical (Mat 5:30).

We must remember the law as written into the hearts of all men as expounded by the Roman epistle and that one may burn his conscience with a hot iron by he is accountable (Rom 2:15) and because of this and our relation to the new covenant which has the law written not in tablets of stone but on the believers heart (2Cr 3:3).

Some would place all laws and indeed even the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus in the Mount of Olives as past dispensation and make them of non effect, yet Paul charged Timothy to remember and consent to the words of our Lord:


1Ti 6:3 ¶If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

So we must not disannul the law of God however for the best part ceremonial law is done away with because it could never justify a man in the sight of God (Gal 2:16) and the law was only ever to be school master to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:24) and we are no longer the law and are above it.

Yet this new found liberty in Christ should not allow us to use it as a cloke of maliciousness attacking other believers (1Pe 2:16) but as Peter says to serve God. I must point out as i usually do that i have little practical experience in my life and need to work at these things in my existence down here.

Some of the things that A.J Jacobs done are listed below:

Wear sandals
Eat Ezekiel Bread
Play the 10-string Harp
Carry a staff
Don a biblical robe
Drink Goat's milk
Burn Myrrh
Avoid lustful gazing
Light your house with Olive Oil lamps

Whilst he is to be commended for some of these some are merely external his practises remind us of things we should do in the spiritual realm.

Wear Sandals

One of my previous posts detailed our walk with the saviour which is highly important in the progress of the believer.

Eat Ezekiel Bread

We have had dealings with the one who is the true bread of life (Jhn 6:35). We will never hunger again because we have tasted of a truth that he is wonderful.

Play the 10-string Harp

The harp was a beautiful and well adorned instrument often with depictions of such like things as lampstands, it not only looked marvelous to the eye it sounded sweet to the ear of the listener we can think of how Saul was temporarily soothed whilst listening to the sounds (1Sa 16:23) it says of him that he was refreshed and was well.

As believers we should have hearts that long to sound out in words of blessing and not to bring down other people as the tongue is described as a member with great boastings (Jam 3:5). We should sing Psalms if we are merry (Jam 5:13) and make melody in our hearts (Eph 5:19), i am a sucker for the guitar even though i don't play well but let it honor him.

Carry a staff

A staff is often in biblical times representative of direction and leadership we can think of the rod of Aaron that budded and other such examples but we can think of how Solomon wrote:

Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

We find in the new testament that if we live near him he will answer our prayers and give us the longings of our hearts as long as they are consistent with his character and the word of God (1Jo 5:15).

Don a biblical robe

I would get a few funny glances from were i came from if i went down the street clothed like an early disciple but i can done a different robe altogether we think of the robe that the priest wore (Exd 39:22) was beautiful as was our Lords robe and his life. We all long to be clothed with the immortal that being the change in this vile body (2Cr 5:2) but we are to be clothed in humility (1Pe 5:5) this does not mean we walk around like extras from a Victorian Period drama but that we are not overly adorned with the things of this world (1Ti 2:9) the bible says nothing of the great trouser debate but has much to say about modesty and over adorning. If we overcome we will be clothed in white one day soon (Rev 3:5).

Drink Goat's milk

I don't like this stuff but for people with allergies i pity them indeed! it is a great substitute however in the morning for real milk and so in the spiritual sphere we must realize there is no substitute for the sincere milk of the word for growth (1Pe 2:2) we all need to grow in the scriptures.

Burn Myrrh

We think of the offerings of the priests and is similar to that of incense we remember in Mark 1, the priest Zacharias doing his temple rites and the people all prayed and the forerunner of our Lord was unveiled to the people. We should all pray for revival in our hearts first before we want to see work of God done in this land.

Avoid lustful gazing

This is one thing and one of the main things AJ is to be applauded for if he managed to do it! because it was one of the most natural things for a young man to do the bible tells us to flee youthful lusts and follow after the things of God (2Ti 2:22).

Light your house with Olive Oil lamps

Think of Matt 25 and the ten virgins and how it speaks of the Spirit and we should be filled with the Spirit in our lives for Christ (Eph 5:18). Light is a thing which speaks of our testimony and how it should shine out as bright before men and that cannot be hid (Mat 5:14).

Remember that the sacrifices of a new testament believer are not the offerings of Judaism nor dead animals but our bodies as living sacrifices.

Rom 12:1 ¶I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Hbr 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.
Hbr 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.