Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 15:19 (New International Version) “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. James is speaking here to the Council at Jerusalem.  Some of the new Jewish Christians wanted the Gentile Christians to learn all of the old Jewish law as part of […]

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Matthew 3:8 (New International Version) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Here is another one of those verses that asks us to do two different and sometimes contradictory things. The first phrase is produce fruit – an action. The second phrase is the word repentance – which means to change your mind. Change your heart […]

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Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. This is a simple phrase. Perhaps that is why I like […]

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Jonah 2:8 (New International Version) “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Wow, can you imagine forfeiting the grace of God. And all for the ability to cling to a worthless idol. Something fashioned by man. Well, maybe this is more understandable in the short term when I expand […]

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Romans 8:2 (New International Version) 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Today is the 4th of July – America’s Independence Day. Much of America’s independence was based on a desire to worship God free from the dictates of another […]

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