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
May 11, 2022, 7:47 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 27-30
Meditation Verses: 30:9-11
Thought
Lord, surely there are still people who desire to know You and live by Your Word. They seem so few and far between. Who seeks You from Your whole counsel? Or have I gone astray? Do I think I know better than is real? It's so much easier to stick with trifles, and even to turn truth into trifles that cannot be discussed. It seems to me like no one wants to really know and understand the Lord, but just get close enough to be saved, close enough to feel some security, but not too close so that they might have to change.
May 10, 2022, 7:48 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 23-26
Meditation Verses: 25:2-3
Thought
The strong understand strength and power, and when the Lord exercises His might, then they honor and glorify Him. They do not respect what they perceive as weakness, but when the Lord overthrows cities that seem untouchable, they honor Him. Wisdom is proved right by all her children. Jesus has been presented as weak and soft and so gentle that few men respect Him. They need to know that not only Jesus, but His Father too are powerful and do overthrow cities, then they will be able to respect Him.
May 9, 2022, 7:49 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 19-22
Meditation Verses: 22:11-14
Thought
The Lord brought trouble on Judah and Jerusalem, but they didn't look to Him to understand what was happening. They did all they could think of to hold off the attackers, then feasted, thinking their end was at hand. He called them to repentance, they did what they could to resist and endure without the Lord, yet still assumed there was no hope. They didn't even ask the Lord for help, they just expected to die.
May 8, 2022, 7:50 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 15-18
Meditation Verses: 18:1-3
Thought
The nations will plot together against the Lord, they will gather together against Him. They will encourage themselves and seek aid from each other. They think their numbers and weapons of war will be sufficient against the Lord. Satan has deceived them completely. They are fools and they will lose. And the Lord will leave some of them alive to rule over them, so that they will understand how foolish they were to try to defeat Him and those loyal to Him.
May 7, 2022, 7:51 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 11-14
Meditation Verses: 14:1-2
Thought
Part of the promise to Israel is to restore them to their land, to gather them from all the nations. In fact, the nations shall bring them back to their homeland, delivering them back to their homes. And many of those other nations will join themselves to Israel, especially their enemies will be made their slaves, so that Israel possesses their former captors as captives. The Lord will rule over the nations from Zion and exalt Israel over all other people.
May 6, 2022, 7:52 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 7-10
Meditation Verse: 10:20
Thought
The people of Israel and Judah were more impressed by those who overthrew them than by the Lord. They trusted in men and their might more than they trusted in the Lord. When a foreign power defeated them and made them vassals, they leaned on that nation for protection. When they were threatened by a powerful nation they didn't like, they turned to other powerful nations to help them fight off the one that threatened them.
May 5, 2022, 7:54 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:13
Thought
The remnant, the holy seed of Israel and Judah will be just a tenth part, like a tithe of the people. Though they be as numerous as the sand on the seashore or like the stars in number, yet only a tenth part will be saved. How frightening to think that such might be the same for those who call themselves Christian! Yet there are so many who think they believe in Jesus, yet want nothing to do with the Jesus described by the Scriptures.
May 4, 2022, 7:55 AM
Passage Read: Song of Solomon 7 - Isaiah 2
Meditation Verse: Isaiah 2:3
Thought
This is what God intends, this is what He plans, that His ways and His laws are taught throughout the land and all people walk in His ways. So why don't we do that now? Indeed, we should be diligently studying His Word to know His ways so that we can walk correctly in them. We shouldn't be studying the ways of men, how to live, how to make use of this life, what to live for and how to obtain it. We should be studying God's Word to know Him, His purpose in giving us life and what He wants us to do with our days and how He wants us to live our lives.
May 3, 2022, 7:18 AM
Passage Read: Song of Solomon 3-6
Meditation Verses: 5:2-6
Thought
Her beloved came and asked her to open to him, but she didn't want to get up at first. She hesitated, then got up to open to him, but then he was gone. She went out to seek him, but the watchmen punished her instead of helping her. It was not good for her to delay when her beloved came for her, she should have responded quickly and welcomed him, rather than think of the effort involved in getting up and opening the door.
May 2, 2022, 7:20 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2
Meditation Verses: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Thought
Solomon's conclusion after declaring that all is vanity? The only thing of real value is to fear God and obey His commands, because He will judge all men for everything they've done in this life. Instead of striving after more goods, more possessions, more wealth, more power, more property, enjoy what you do have, family and labor to satisfy your basic needs. And be very mindful of God, make sure you know what He desires and be sure to do it.
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