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 21, 2023, 7:24 AM
Passage Read: Jeremiah 9-12
Meditation Verses: 12:1-2
Thought
Jeremiah's question is why do the wicked prosper, and the wicked he speaks of are people who have the Lord on their lips but far from their hearts. They are faithless people even though they always have the Lord on their lips, because He is far from their hearts. It is not enough to speak of the Lord continually, nor is it necessary. What marks a true believer is his meditation on the Lord and his desire and commitment to please Him.
May 20, 2023, 7:25 AM
Passage Read: Jeremiah 5-8
Meditation Verses: 7:22-23
Thought
The Law is all about how to walk in God's ways, how to do what is right and avoid what is evil. There were many commands, all of which teach what it means to love the Lord with all the heart and to love a neighbor as oneself. The sacrificial system was established and prescribed for the occasional breaking of a command; it was never meant as a means to ignore the commands and get away with it by killing some animals!
May 19, 2023, 7:26 AM
Passage Read: Jeremiah 1-4
Meditation Verses: 4:1-2
Thought
If God's people repent and return to the Lord, if they swear in truth and righteousness, "As the Lord loves," if they believe it and walk in His ways because they know He is true and real and living, then all nations will be blessed by Him and glory in Him. If God's people honor and revere Him in word and deed, then all nations will enjoy His favor and glorify Him. The repentance and belief of the nations is tied to, even dependent on the faith and faithfulness of those who are called His own.
May 18, 2023, 8:11 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 63-66
Meditation Verse: 66:5
Thought
There are those who laugh at the Lord's Word and there are those who believe it and those who fear the Lord. Both dwell together in the Lord's presence. They are brothers, but they do not all fear the Lord the same. The Lord promises that those who tremble at His Word, who live to obey the Lord no matter how difficult God's command, these will enjoy His favor and receive His salvation.
May 17, 2023, 8:12 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 59-62
Meditation Verses: 59:12-13
Thought
Israel's sins were many: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning their back on the Lord, fomenting oppression and revolt, and speaking lies their own hearts had conceived. They rebelled against the Lord and worked against Him. They ignored Him. They encouraged others to oppress others and revolt against the Lord. And they made up lies that justified their rebellion.
May 16, 2023, 8:13 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 55-58
Meditation Verse: 57:10
Thought
It is possible even for the wicked to renew their strength. They can gain encouragement, even though they're exhausted by going their own way and stumbling over stumbling blocks that the Lord sets in their way. They could give up and look to God for help, but no, they crash, they burn, but after a bit of rest, they find new strength to continue in their wicked ways.
May 15, 2023, 8:15 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 51-54
Meditation Verses: 51:7-8
Thought
I must not fear the mocking or insults of men, because those who are unwilling to humble themselves before the Lord will be doomed to destruction. They may insult believers now, but they will perish with none to save.
May 14, 2023, 8:16 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 47-50
Meditation Verse: 50:10
Thought
Again a blindness illustration: Those who walk in darkness, who cannot see, long for light. They will either accept the light of the Lord or create their own. Those who create their own, who decide for themselves what is the right way to live, or who listen to godless men for direction, they will end up rejected by the Lord and tormented forever. But those who choose to listen to the Lord and His appointed servants, they will understand correctly how to live.
May 13, 2023, 8:17 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 43-46
Meditation Verses: 43:22-24
Thought
The Lord is so good to us; He provides all we need and helps us obtain even things we want. He takes care of us, gives us life, allows us to enjoy our days. And how do we repay Him? The animals honor Him, but what about the people He formed for His praise? He hasn't demanded too much; He doesn't require all kinds of offerings and sacrifices. But is it too much to praise Him? How have we wearied ourselves for Him?
May 12, 2023, 8:19 AM
Passage Read: Isaiah 39-42
Meditation Verse: 42:16
Thought
Those who don't know the Lord or His ways are as blind as can be. But the Lord is willing to lead those who are blind, but He will lead them in New paths, paths they have not known. Those paths will look strange to those who are still blind but refuse the Lord's guidance; they are new and different paths, new to those who are led upon them by the Lord. Because His ways are so different from the ways of the world, and so much better.
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2 (current)
- 3
- 4
- Next →