Contemplative Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:8-9 (New Living Translation) 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Paul is writing to the Christians in Ephesus. He is writing about the […]

[Read more →]

Luke 7:47-50 (New Living Translation) 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who […]

[Read more →]

Romans 12:21 (New Living Translation) 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome. Paul spends a few paragraphs on the subject of love and loving others. He concludes with this statement. Conquer evil with love. Recently in America, someone was killed. Some Americans […]

[Read more →]

Galatians 3:3 (New Living Translation) 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? There are folks who study how we all change from one thing to another. These folks have noted how many ways there are […]

[Read more →]

Acts 15:31 (New Living Translation) 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. The apostles and elders in Jerusalem had written a short letter to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. When received, the reaction was described above. The message was encouraging; there was […]

[Read more →]

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 […]

[Read more →]

Acts 2:37a (New Living Translation) 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, Peter is speaking to a large crowd on the day credited with the birth of the church (so some say). At the end of talk, there is the reaction of the crowd. They all respond to Peter’s admonitions. But first, we have this description […]

[Read more →]

1 Peter 3:8 (New Living Translation) 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Peter is writing to Christians in a large region. Many of those Christians are Jewish. The Jews looked back to their […]

[Read more →]

John 2:25 (New Living Translation) 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. A remarkable sentence or two here. Jesus was performing miracles in Jerusalem. People were putting their trust in Jesus. After all, this fella’ from Nazareth was healing sick people like … […]

[Read more →]

2 Peter 3:5 (New Living Translation) 5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Oops, slipped my mind. What is that guy’s name? I have known him for years, but can’t think […]

[Read more →]