Contemplative Bible Reading

Titus 3:9 (New Living Translation) Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. The different translations use different words for the word following “foolish.” Examples are arguments, controversies, and so on. All the translations […]

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1 Samuel 25:8 (New Living Translation) …So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David. Ten of David’s men visited Nabal. David’s men had shown kindness to the shepherd of Nabal in […]

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Philemon 1:7 (New Living Translation) Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Paul is thanking Philemon. Philemon has allowed God to work through him to refresh hearts with joy and comfort through kindness. Philemon didn’t have to do that. Philemon […]

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Habakkuk 1:16 (New Living Translation) Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them. “These nets are the gods who have made us rich!” they will claim. The prophet is pleading to God for mercy. Invaders will come and do as they wish with God’s people. No small fact, but God’s […]

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Exodus 1:8-10 (New Living Translation) 8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan to keep them from […]

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I will post this in a different format than usual to emphasize the differences in translations and meaning. The fear of the Lord is a phrase commonly used in the Bible and just as commonly misused by us when reading and explaining. One concept that is repeated in scriptures is the beginning of wisdom. In […]

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Jonah 1:15-16 (New Living Translation) 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. Jonah, allowing the Lord to work through him, was […]

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1 John 3:11-13 (New Living Translation) 11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his […]

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Jeremiah 6:15 (New Living Translation) Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! blush: verb, develop a pink tinge in the face from embarrassment or shame. The prophet is relaying the words of God to the people. The people have been performing disgusting acts. Their reaction? Nothing. […]

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