Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 1:21, 12:2 (New Living Translation) As a result, their minds became dark and confused…Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. There are a lot of words between these two statements in Paul’s letter to the church in […]

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Genesis 24:62-63 (New Living Translation) 62 Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi. 63 One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. How do I spend my evenings? Here is how Isaac spent his. He walked and meditated in […]

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Hebrews 13:3 (New Living Translation) Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. The writer is concluding a letter sent to Jews. This request seems odd, but consider the nature of the prison: Gentiles invented prisons. Jews did […]

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Matthew 14:29 (New Living Translation) “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. We know the story. Peter walks on water. Then, when we looks away from Jesus, he sinks. Let’s pause a moment to consider this “walking on water” thing. We tend […]

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Genesis 24:12 (New Living Translation) “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham…” The person praying is a nameless servant of Abraham sent to find a wife for Isaac. (Consider that task for a while.) It is not arrogant or selfish […]

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Philippians 1:17-18 (New Living Translation) 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, […]

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John 3:21 (New Living Translation) But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. There are days when I want everyone to see what I am doing. Arrogant? Boastful? Prideful? Please pause a moment. I want people to see the actions, not […]

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John 3:20 (New Living Translation) All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Question to ask (especially to ask myself): What are you (what am I) doing? Will that lead to something? Will that lead to something you (I) want? Do I want […]

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Romans 8:15 (New Living Translation) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” God gives spirit, and spirit lives in us all. What kind of spirit do I want living in me? […]

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John 3:19 (New Living Translation) And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. Funny thing about being in a well-lit place: I can see everything I am doing. And…everyone else can see everything I am […]

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