Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 1:8-9 (New Living Translation) 8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. This was a big event. Zechariah was in the […]

[Read more →]

Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. […]

[Read more →]

Luke 5:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” This is part of the (hi)story of the crippled man and his friends. We heard this one many times in Sunday School as kids. The men carried their crippled friend on a stretcher to Jesus […]

[Read more →]

Ephesians 1:18 (New Living Translation) I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Paul is writing a letter to Christians in Ephesus. Paul describes his prayers for those Christians. […]

[Read more →]

Mark 10:2 (New Living Translation) 2 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?” I don’t remember how many times I have sat in a Christian discussion in which the topic was this verse and what follows. We love to discuss divorce and […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]

Ephesians 1:16b-17 (New Living Translation) 16b I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. Paul describes his prayer for Christians living in Ephesus. Among several things, Paul asks that God […]

[Read more →]

Romans 16:10a (New Living Translation) 10 Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves… Here we hear about a man named Apelles. No, I don’t know how to pronounce that correctly. And I don’t know anything else about this man. What I do know is that Apelles was a good man whom Christ approves. We […]

[Read more →]

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (New Living Translation) 1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They […]

[Read more →]

Hebrews 2:16 (New Living Translation) 16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Angels need help? They are angels. Yes, but they are not perfect, I guess. It seems from this sentence that angels could use some help. Now comes the BUT. […]

[Read more →]