Contemplative Bible Reading

James 3:15 (New Living Translation) 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James is writing I am writing to Jewish Christians scattered abroad. James describes the wisdom of God and how Christians show that wisdom. James contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom […]

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James 1:14 (New Living Translation) 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. “The devil made me do it” used to be an oft-stated phrase. I recall a comedian from the 1970s said that a lot for laughs. Ancient history. This verse from James, however, seems to place the […]

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James 1:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Who put this sentence in the Bible? Who slipped it in? I don’t like this. It makes me angry! Note how I write that “this MAKES ME angry.” I don’t become angry, something else makes me angry. Silly me. And […]

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James 1:3 (New Living Translation) 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James is writing to Jews who believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God. These groups of believers had been scattered to the winds and found themselves in little groups here […]

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James 5:16 This is a little different post. Here are several translations of this one verse. (I like the King James Version best.) King James Version: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The Message: The […]

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James 1:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. I live to improve. I want to be and do better everyday. I desire this to a fault. Yes, others don’t always share […]

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James 5:1 (New Living Translation) Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Boy, I wish I were rich. Uh, well, read the above verse. Terrible troubles haunt rich people. The not-so-rich (loads of money) don’t worry about the stock market, the prime rate, […]

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James 1:27 (New Living Translation) Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. This is one of those sentences in the Bible…I read the opening phrase…and…here it comes. Write this one on the wall or […]

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James 1:2 (New Living Translation) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. This is one of the more annoying verses in the Bible. How did God put it in here? I suppose I am to put the emphasis on the word opportunity. That […]

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James 5:19-20 (New Living Translation) 19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. One way that I […]

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