Contemplative Bible Reading

Esther 3:5-6 (New Living Translation) 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews […]

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Matthew 17:4 (New Living Translation) 4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Here is a simple statement for the ages. Peter and a couple of fellow followers of Jesus are standing in the […]

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Matthew 4:19 (American Standard Version) 19 And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. This is a famous statement from Jesus to Peter and his brother Andrew. These brothers were commercial fishermen. Jesus told them that they would no longer seek fish from the sea but […]

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Matthew 11:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. Folks don’t like this verse. I don’t “like” this verse and the ensuing discourse from Jesus. Jesus denounced people for not repenting […]

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Matthew 3:13-15 (Christian Standard Bible) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” 15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to […]

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Matthew 8:16-17 (New Living Translation) …and he (Jesus) healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses    and removed our diseases.” Told many centuries earlier, the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who would take away the sins of mankind, the Christ would […]

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Matthew 8:32-34 (New Living Translation) 32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. […]

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Matthew 20:28 (New Living Translation) 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus concludes a discussion on what we value with this statement about His own life and ransom. One definition of ransom is “something paid or […]

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This is a different from most posts. Today, December 25th 2022, is Christmas Day. Christianity worldwide celebrates this as the day Christ came to earth. Well, there are 365 or so days in a year, so there is a chance that Christ was born close to the winter solstice. Researchers who research such things have […]

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Matthew 10:12 (New Living Translation) 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. Jesus is sending out the 12 apostles and giving them instructions on what to do and where to go. this sentence above is part of the instructions of Jesus. We don’t talk like this these days. We don’t say things […]

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