Contemplative Bible Reading

Colossians 3:5 (English Standard Version) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Watch out for the last phrase of this verse: covetousness which is idolatry. I sure like that fellas’ car. I sure like that fellas’ vacation plans. Innocent enough, right? Perhaps. […]

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Colossians 2:6 (English Standard Version) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him Walk in Him. Wade in Him. Live in Him. There is an all-too-popular phrase bouncing about “make room for God.” I strongly disagree. I believe this verse strongly disagrees. We walk in Jesus. We live in him all […]

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John 17:15-16 (New Living Translation) 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Jesus is praying to God regarding His followers (“them” and “they” in the verses). Let’s reverse […]

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Romans 8:8-9 (New Living Translation) 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do […]

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1 Timothy 6:10 (American Standard Version) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The first part of this version, “for the love of money,” is familiar. I only recently noticed […]

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Mark 1:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him. Jesus took on human-ness. He was weakened by fasting in the desert. This was not the Las Vegas desert; this was a real desert, called […]

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Matthew 15:32 (New Living Translation) Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” Jesus understood human frailty. He […]

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Matthew 14:34-36 (New Living Translation) 34 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of […]

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Matthew 11:4 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: Much of the life of a Christian is spiritual, i.e., it is not subject to the physical sciences. We simply cannot explain what is happening with physical evidence. Much, however, is subject to the human […]

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Matthew 10:16-17 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) 16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. 17 Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. I have always loved the imagery in verse 16. I […]

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