Contemplative Bible Reading

John 12:47-48 (New International Version) 47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very […]

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2 Peter 1:5-9 (New International Version 2010) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these […]

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Romans 5:5 (New International Version 2010) And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. There are times when I read the Bible from a simple perspective. The recent reading of this verse was one of […]

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Romans 8:18-21 (New International Version) 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but […]

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John 11:47 (New International Version) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.    “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. What a great question: What are we accomplishing? This group of religious leaders gathered to consider what to do with and about this man […]

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Mark 6:36-37 (New International Version) 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” These statements are part of Mark’s recording of the feeding of 5,000 men. Verse 36 is what the Apostles […]

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John 10:33 (New International Version) “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Speaking here are Jews in Jerusalem. They are going to execute Jesus for a capital crime. Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be the Son of God. To […]

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John 10:22-23 (New International Version) 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Festival of Dedication doesn’t mean much to me. I recently learned that this festival is today known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. Wikipedia […]

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Mark 9:9-10 (New International Version) 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. This is a classic example of Jesus saying […]

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Luke 11:42 (New International Version) “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. The poor Pharisees. They meant so well and they […]

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