Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 2:17 (New Living Translation) After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. The Messiah had been born in a stable and lay in a manger. Sheep herders, who were supposed to be working but had abandoned their jobs, were telling everyone […]

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1 Peter 2:12 (New Living Translation) Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. This verse continues the thought from the previous one. We are passing through […]

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Titus 3:9 (New Living Translation) Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. The different translations use different words for the word following “foolish.” Examples are arguments, controversies, and so on. All the translations […]

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Philemon 1:7 (New Living Translation) Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Paul is thanking Philemon. Philemon has allowed God to work through him to refresh hearts with joy and comfort through kindness. Philemon didn’t have to do that. Philemon […]

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1 John 3:11-13 (New Living Translation) 11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his […]

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Matthew 28:1-2 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) 1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone […]

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Hebrews 12:2 (New Living Translation) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. The writer is mentioning Christ on the cross […]

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Romans 12:15-16 (New Living Translation) 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! A little different view of “harmony.” In music, to be in […]

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John 11:47-48 (New Living Translation) “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him…” Jesus, called “this man” above, had just raised Lazarus from the dead in the sight of many persons. The above statement was made in a quickly called council […]

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John 11:43 (King James Version) And when he (Jesus) thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Jesus is standing among a group of persons. What if Jesus had said, “Come forth” or “Come here.” The persons standing around would look at each other and shrug and start walking towards Jesus. […]

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