Contemplative Bible Reading

1 John 2:27 (New Living Translation) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught […]

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Hebrews 12:11 (New Living Translation) No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Mark Twain once said something like, “A Classic is something you don’t want to read, but you want to say you have […]

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Hebrews 11:3 (New Living Translation) By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Take note of the second half of the above sentence: what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. […]

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Hebrews 10:24 (New Living Translation) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. I love the words used in this translation. Notice how the verse combines the intellect, emotion, and action of serving our Lord. There is the thinking of ways that lead to an emotional motivation. […]

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John 20:8 (New Living Translation) Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed Note the marvelous shift from physical sense to spiritual faith. The disciple saw (a physical sense) the empty tomb, but then believed (spiritual faith). There were many physical conclusions available given the physical […]

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Jude 1:16 (New English Translation) These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain. These are, from verse 4, ungodly men who have turned turned the grace of our God into a license for evil. Verse 16 is one description […]

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Hebrews 1:1-4 (New English Translation) 1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, 2 in these last days he has spoke to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 3 The Son is […]

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Romans 15:1 (New Living Translation) We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. In his letter to the Roman church, Paul has just finished discussing eating this and doing that. He discussed parts of the culture of the day that bring […]

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Matthew 23:1-4 (New Living Translation) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people […]

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Matthew 21:42-44 (New Living Translation) 42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’ 43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to […]

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