Contemplative Bible Reading

1 John 4:18 (New Living Translation) Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. A little research shows that I blogged about this verse back in 2009. Time flies, and […]

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Matthew 4:12-16 (New Living Translation) 12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet […]

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Matthew 2:1-3 (New Living Translation) Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 […]

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1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (New Living Translation) 4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what […]

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Mark 6:19-20 (New Living Translation) 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, […]

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Jude verse 23 (New Living Translation) Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Interesting balancing act here. Then again, life is made interesting by these occasions when we walk along the top of a […]

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Acts 7:20-21 (New Living Translation) 20 “At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months. 21 When they had to abandon him, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son. These verses are from Stephen giving his defense for preaching […]

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James 4:7 (New Living Translation) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The devil is a large, powerful enemy. This verse, however, tells me that the devil will flee from me. Hmmm, I must be pretty powerful, too. What do I have to do so the devil flees? […]

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James 3:2 (New Living Translation) Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. Notice the power and promise of this verse. If I can control my tongue, I can control myself in every other way. Contemplate on […]

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James 2:3-4 (New Living Translation) 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? This is the passage from […]

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