Contemplative Bible Reading

James 3:15 (New Living Translation) 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. James is writing I am writing to Jewish Christians scattered abroad. James describes the wisdom of God and how Christians show that wisdom. James contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom […]

[Read more →]

Acts 2:37a (New Living Translation) 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, Peter is speaking to a large crowd on the day credited with the birth of the church (so some say). At the end of talk, there is the reaction of the crowd. They all respond to Peter’s admonitions. But first, we have this description […]

[Read more →]

1 Peter 3:8 (New Living Translation) 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Peter is writing to Christians in a large region. Many of those Christians are Jewish. The Jews looked back to their […]

[Read more →]

John 2:25 (New Living Translation) 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart. A remarkable sentence or two here. Jesus was performing miracles in Jerusalem. People were putting their trust in Jesus. After all, this fella’ from Nazareth was healing sick people like … […]

[Read more →]

2 Peter 3:5 (New Living Translation) 5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Oops, slipped my mind. What is that guy’s name? I have known him for years, but can’t think […]

[Read more →]

James 1:14 (New Living Translation) 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. “The devil made me do it” used to be an oft-stated phrase. I recall a comedian from the 1970s said that a lot for laughs. Ancient history. This verse from James, however, seems to place the […]

[Read more →]

2 Peter 3:17 (New Living Translation) 17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Peter writes this to Christians scattered about here and there. In the preceding sentences, Peter explains that […]

[Read more →]

James 1:20 (New Living Translation) 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Who put this sentence in the Bible? Who slipped it in? I don’t like this. It makes me angry! Note how I write that “this MAKES ME angry.” I don’t become angry, something else makes me angry. Silly me. And […]

[Read more →]