Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 10:18 (New Living Translation) 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. Jesus is talking here. Jesus is telling followers what to expect. The followers will stand before rulers and other unbelievers. What […]

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Lamentations 1:22 (New Living Translation) 22 “Look at all their evil deeds, Lord.Punish them,as you have punished mefor all my sins.My groans are many,and I am sick at heart.” The writer here is crying in sorrow. The people sinned for generations and are suffering for their choices. “Once a queen…now a slave.” “All her friends […]

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Habakkuk 2:12-13 (New Living Translation) 12 “What sorrow awaits you who build citieswith money gained through murder and corruption!13 Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promisedthat the wealth of nations will turn to ashes?They work so hard,but all in vain! The prophet relays the proclamation of God to the people. Ashes. Not a pretty […]

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Jeremiah 13:12 (New Living Translation) 12 “So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: May all your jars be filled with wine.’ The prophet Jeremiah is passing along words from God to the people. God is displeased with how the people are living. They disobey daily. As a punishment, God […]

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Hosea 14:9 (New Living Translation) 9 Let those who are wise understand these things.Let those with discernment listen carefully.The paths of the Lord are true and right,and righteous people live by walking in them.But in those paths sinners stumble and fall. I have always liked the concept of following God and the picture of following […]

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Jeremiah 33:15 (New Living Translation) 15 “In those days and at that timeI will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.He will do what is just and right throughout the land. The prophet Jeremiah is passing along a few predictions of the future from God. A new King is coming one day. The […]

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Leviticus 25:23 (New Living Translation) 23 “The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me. This is The Law being passed from God to God’s people. Let’s talk about personal property and such. Oh wait, there doesn’t seem […]

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Revelation 2:2 (New Living Translation) I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. John is writing to the (angel or messenger of) church of Ephesus. John commends them for not tolerating evil people. Good. There […]

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Revelation 1:9 (New Living Translation) 9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. This sentence is early in […]

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