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
Feb 18, 2023, 7:09 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 22-25
Meditation Verses: 24:17-18
Thought
Joash faithfully followed the directions of Jehoiada until he passed. After that, some officials stepped up and won his favor and led him astray. He was not strong enough or wise enough to remain faithful to the Lord, but he was loyal to whatever man or men impressed him. Sadly, it was officials who later conspired against him and killed him. Which just goes to show that men are fickle and not to be trusted. God alone is unchanging and righteous, and so the only one who can be trusted.
Feb 17, 2023, 7:10 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 18-21
Meditation Verse: 19:2
Thought
The wrath of God was against Jehoshaphat because he helped the wicked and loved those who hated the Lord, specifically Ahab and Israel. God was angry with Jehoshaphat because he loved the wicked who hated God, yet the Lord Himself says we are to love our enemies and do good to those who hate Him. Which is it? There is clearly a kind of love for the wicked that God hates and a different kind of love that He Himself displays.
Feb 16, 2023, 7:12 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 14-17
Meditation Verses: 17:9-11
Thought
Jehoshaphat sent teachers throughout the towns of Judah, including several Levites and priests. They taught the Law of God and fear fell on the surrounding nations so that they didn't bother Judah, but instead some brought gifts. Just by teaching the Law. Surely the Lord moved the hearts of many to obey His Word, but no mention is made of that. The key is that the Lord's Word was taught and it brought peace and security, even blessing.
Feb 15, 2023, 7:13 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 10-13
Meditation Verses: 10:13-14
Thought
It's not usually a good idea to prove how tough and strong you are, but far better to rely on the Lord for guidance and strength and victory. Rehoboam's son had learned humility and reliance on the Lord, probably from the negative example of his father. And Abijah was delivered when the Israelites came with a superior force. Rehoboam, on the other hand, exalted himself and turned against the Lord, and both times was rejected and humbled.
Feb 14, 2023, 7:14 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 6-9
Meditation Verse: 7:3
Thought
How did they not run screaming from the fire? What this must've looked like, how targeted it must have been so as not to damage anything in the temple! And no one was hurt, but instead they went on praising and worshiping God! How amazing this must have been! Surely no one who saw it ever doubted the reality of God. And neither should I. The Lord is powerful, and does miracles. He is real, so all His promises are trustworthy.
Feb 13, 2023, 7:16 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 2-5
Meditation Verse: 3:1
Thought
Solomon was faithful to fulfill the unfinished projects of his father, most important being the construction of the Temple. He started out so well, so faithful and so committed to doing what was good and right. But all the while he was laying the foundation for his fall. While he was serving the Lord and faithfully carrying out all these duties, he was also marrying foreign women who would eventually turn his heart away from the Lord, from single-minded devotion to the Lord.
Feb 12, 2023, 6:45 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 27 - 2 Chronicles 1
Meditation Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:17
Thought
The Lord tests the heart and is pleased with integrity. He looks for deeds done willingly and with an honest intent. He seeks purity of heart, an honest and good heart, one in which their is no guile, no hidden motives, no craftiness and manipulation. He desires that men worship Him in spirit and truth. He has seen through all the false worship, where men praise Him with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him.
Feb 11, 2023, 6:46 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 23-26
Meditation Verse: 23:4
Thought
David appointed the Levites to new duties, since they no longer had to transport the Tabernacle. Among those duties were to be judges, which I assume also meant teachers, since you can't judge people by laws they don't know about. It has been the responsibility of the priests to teach the Law, but they weren't doing such a great job of it, or else they lacked support from the civil leaders (city elders, previous judges, Saul) to execute punishment based on the Law.
Feb 10, 2023, 6:48 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 19-22
Meditation Verses: 21:1-2
Thought
While this gives no excuse for sin, it is hopeful to know that even when I fail, the Lord can bring good from it. The end of this story is the establishment of the temple location. Though seventy thousand people in Israel died, not one lost their chance for redemption. Either they were already saved or they would never believe; their eternal destiny had already been set. We make much of this life, and it is important, but mainly for determining where we spend eternity, and secondly, the quality of that experience.
Feb 9, 2023, 6:49 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 15-18
Meditation Verse: 17:10
Thought
David couldn't bear the thought of the Lord sitting on His throne in a tent, while David sat on a throne in a cedar house. It was wrong that he should enjoy comforts that the Lord didn't. It was wrong that he should have better things than the Lord. The Lord was God of all creation, far greater than David, and He should have the best, better than any human king enjoyed. That is honor.
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