Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 9:11b-12a (New Living Translation) 11 (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) I am quoting an odd scripture or an odd translation of scripture. This is a phrase in parentheses that spans two verses. Odd way […]

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Romans 8:12 (New Living Translation) 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. Hear ye! Hear ye! You (we) are not obligated to your sinful nature. The word obligated (oblige) means to bind morally or legally, as by a promise or contract. If […]

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Luke 11:53-54 (New Living Translation) 53 As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. 54 They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him. As Jesus continues the earthly ministry, teachers of the religious law and Pharisees […]

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Romans 6:12 (New Living Translation) 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. What controls the way I live? One simple thing is the fatigue that this body experiences. I sleep about a third of the day. Another simple thing is this body requires energy. I […]

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Acts 8:1 (New Living Translation) 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. This is one of […]

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Romans 1:32 (New Living Translation) 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. There is a system of justice from God. Certain acts require the punishment of death. Some are listed prior to the […]

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John 14:27 (New Living Translation) 27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Jesus is speaking. Jesus leaves a gift for me: peace of mind and heart. Goodness, we have lots of folks […]

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1 Timothy 6:10 (New Living Translation) 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. This is a well-known verse. The King James Version has the shorter, “for the love of money is […]

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John 10:10 (New Living Translation) 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. Jesus is speaking here. This is part of the tale of the good shepherd and the sheep. The purpose of the thieves is to steal sheep, kill them, […]

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John 6:63 (New Living Translation) 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Jesus said the above words. The topic is eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. Hey, wait a minute. I mean, I try to be good and […]

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