Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 3:1–2 (New Living Translation) 1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” John the Baptist is preaching. (Trivia note—this is the first time that the word “preach” appears […]

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Genesis 42:7 (New Living Translation) Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded. This is part of the (hi)story of Joseph, his brothers, and the eventual 430 years of life in Egypt for the family of Jacob. Joseph is where […]

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Genesis 3:1 (New Living Translation) The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Consider the language used at the start of this passage. The […]

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Matthew 11:4–5 (New Living Translation) 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” The followers […]

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1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (New Living Translation) 9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my […]

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2 Chronicles 3:5 (New Living Translation) He paneled the main room of the Temple with cypress wood, overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with carvings of palm trees and chains. This verse describes how Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem. The main room was decorated with carving of palm trees. Palm trees? How […]

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Hebrews 5:1-2 (New Living Translation) 1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same […]

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Genesis 2: 8 (New Living Translation) Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. As the (hi)story of the creation continues, we read that God the Creator planted a garden and put Adam in that place. We see earlier in verses four […]

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Matthew 2:13-14 (New Living Translation) 13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to […]

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Deuteronomy 13:5 (New Living Translation) The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death God is instructing the people with regards to prophets or visionaries—literally persons who predicted the future and the future came true. These were persons who had words from God that were relayed to the […]

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