Personal Devotions
Notes from Mark's personal Bible reading and meditation
With a goal to apply one truth from each day's reading to my life that day
Sep 9, 2026, 8:11 AM
Passage Read: John 5-6
Meditation Verses: 6:64-65
Thought
John is talking about Jesus' followers, His disciples, both among the Twelve and beyond. Jesus knew who among them actually believed and who didn't. He also knew who would betray Him. And with this teaching, many turn back from following Him. Jesus earlier said that if someone does not believe the writings of Moses, they do not really believe in Jesus.
Sep 8, 2026, 11:26 AM
Passage Read: John 3-4
Meditation Verse: 4:48
Thought
Jesus sounds unhappy or impatient with the people because they must see signs and wonders in order to believe. But signs and wonders testify to the presence of God with a prophet. Yet believing on the basis of signs and wonders does not mean a person believes in truth. They may just be there for the excitement!
Sep 7, 2026, 12:44 PM
Passage Read: John 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:23-25
Thought
People were believing in Jesus because of the signs He was performing, but John then goes out of his way to note that Jesus wasn't entrusting Himself to them. Jesus knew people. Jesus knew how fickle they could be, how easily or eagerly they would believe in Him when they see some sign or receive some benefit.
Sep 6, 2026, 8:22 AM
Passage Read: Luke 23-24
Meditation Verses: 24:46-47
Thought
The gospel is a message of repentance for forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus. Jesus has power to forgive sins, and He paid the price in blood to purchase forgiveness for all who will repent and believe in and follow Him. It is not enough to "believe" that Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay the debt we owed for our sins,
Sep 5, 2026, 9:34 AM
Passage Read: Luke 21-22
Meditation Verses: 22:31-32
Thought
Satan demanded permission to sift Peter like wheat, and it was granted. Satan couldn't attack Peter without permission, but God was willing for him to be tested, knowing he would fail the test. Peter would be tested without Satan's interference. Peter had declared he would gladly go to prison or die with Jesus, so when Jesus was arrested, that was the first test and his first failure.
Sep 4, 2026, 11:56 AM
Passage Read: Luke 19-20
Meditation Verses: 19:15-17
Thought
This nobleman decided to test some of his servants to see which were loyal and reliable, because he was looking for those whom he could trust to help him rule over the kingdom he sought, if it was granted. He didn't test every servant, but only a select few.
Sep 3, 2026, 10:43 AM
Passage Read: Luke 17-18
Meditation Verses: 18:39-40
Thought
When Bartimaeus began calling out for Jesus' help, the people in the crowd tried to shut him up. Followers of Jesus! They weren't even thinking they could see another miracle. They were crowding around Jesus, soaking up His presence. Perhaps they thought better of themselves because they were in the crowd with Him.
Sep 2, 2026, 2:00 PM
Passage Read: Luke 15-16
Meditation Verses: 15:28-32
Thought
The father pleaded with the "good" son, but there's no record of him pleading with the "bad" son before he left. That doesn't mean he didn't, but that there's no record. He may have had many talks with the younger son, but found that son unmovable. So the only thing he could do was grant his desire and let him go.
Sep 1, 2026, 11:09 AM
Passage Read: Luke 13-14
Meditation Verses: 13:23-27
Thought
It is not enough to like Jesus and to enjoy listening to His words, that will not save a man. Jesus warns that there are many who will come to Him and be refused entry into His kingdom, though they ate and drank in His presence and heard Him teach in their streets.
Aug 31, 2026, 7:26 AM
Passage Read: Luke 11-12
Meditation Verses: 12:1-3
Thought
Beware hypocrisy. It is easy to say one thing or claim to be and do certain things, but secretly do nothing of the sort. It is easy to hide hypocrisy from men, but impossible to hide it from God. He sees everything we do in secret. He hears everything we say in private. When we think no one sees or hears, God is watching and hearing.