Contemplative Bible Reading

John 5:13 (New Living Translation) 13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. This is part of the (hi)story of Jesus healing a lame man in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate at the pool of Bethesda. This caused a controversy because it was the Sabbath or day of rest. As instructed […]

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John 3:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” 4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” These statements are from the famous conversation between […]

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Luke 4:22 (New Living Translation) 22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Jesus spoke to many people during the time He spent on earth. The Bible often calls them “multitudes.” People would stop what […]

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Luke 5:11 (New Living Translation) 11 And as soon as they (Peter, James, and John) landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. Peter and his partners, James and his brother John, were commercial fishermen. They fished in a great lake and sold their fish in the markets. This was a business. This was a livelihood. […]

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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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Hebrews 10:24 (New Living Translation) 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. It is Sunday. Christians gather as we have gathered for several thousand years. What shall we do today? Here’s a thought: Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of […]

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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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Romans 12:12 (Christian Standard Bible) 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. This short statement is from Paul in the letter to the church in Rome. Many of today’s Bibles attach a heading to this section titled “Christian Ethics.” One Internet definition of ethics is: Ethics is based on well-founded […]

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Mark 13:5-6 (New Living Translation) 5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. Jesus is telling followers about things that will happen in the future. People will appear claiming to be the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah. Those […]

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Luke 2:38 (New Living Translation) 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. This is part of the (hi)story of Anna. She was an 84-year-old widow who stayed […]

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