Contemplative Bible Reading

John 3:21 (American Standard Version) But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God. Another well-known passage in an older translation. We don’t use this language anymore. In some sense, these words have been pushed to the back corner of […]

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John 1:4 (American Standard Version) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Let’s look at a familiar passage in what today is an unfamiliar translation. I don’t see well in the dark. I guess that is an understatement as I can’t see anything in the absence of light. God made […]

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John 19:11 (New Living Translation) Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. Jesus is talking to Pilate. Pilate is having one of those days when you ask yourself, “What did I do to deserve this?” Pilate is hanging out in his political […]

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Hebrews 12:1-2a (New Living Translation) 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. 2 […]

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Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Translation) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This is priest language. It is used to describe how priests would enter the temple to come near to God. They were special […]

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2 Peter 1:1b (New Living Translation) I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. This is a letter to those who share the same precious faith that the writer has. What […]

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Luke 15:31 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) Son, he said to him, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. This statement comes at the end of the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father is talking to the older brother. I have always stumbled through this parable. There is something or other […]

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Mark 2:27-28 (Holman Standard Christian Bible) 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath is rest. It is God’s gift to man—rest for the weary. Jesus came to take away the sins […]

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2 Timothy 2:22 (New Living Translation) …pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. I consider these tips or recommendations as opposed to commands. And I consider these to be pretty darn good tips. do what is right be faithful to Jesus Christ […]

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2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. God has given us a spirit of, let’s see: power love self-discipline Seems like an odd list. None of these things is not like the other or something like that. Perhaps […]

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