Contemplative Bible Reading

James 1:14 (New Living Translation) 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. “The devil made me do it” used to be an oft-stated phrase. I recall a comedian from the 1970s said that a lot for laughs. Ancient history. This verse from James, however, seems to place the […]

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2 Peter 3:17 (New Living Translation) 17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Peter writes this to Christians scattered about here and there. In the preceding sentences, Peter explains that […]

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James 1:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Who put this sentence in the Bible? Who slipped it in? I don’t like this. It makes me angry! Note how I write that “this MAKES ME angry.” I don’t become angry, something else makes me angry. Silly me. And […]

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Colossians 2:15 (New Living Translation) 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Paul continues to write to the Christians in Colosse. Paul reminds them of how Jesus Christ died via execution on a cross. The spiritual rulers of the […]

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1 Timothy 6:9-10 (New Living Translation) 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from […]

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1 John 2:16 (New Living Translation) 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. This is, or used to be, a well-known verse and often-taught theme. The older […]

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Colossians 2:14 (New Living Translation) 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Paul is writing to Christians at Colosse. In this sentence, Paul is reminding the Christians what Jesus Christ did for them. Jesus took the record of charges against them (and […]

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2 John 1:5-6 (New Living Translation) 5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as […]

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Colossians 1:6 (New Living Translation) 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. Paul is writing to Christians in […]

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Jude 1:24 (New Living Translation) 24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. There is much in this short letter from a man named Jude. In this sentence, Jude praises God for some […]

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