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
Jul 21, 2023, 7:14 AM
Passage Read: Mark 7-8
Meditation Verse: 8:38
Thought
So Jesus is right in everything He says. All of God's Word is right in everything it teaches. If I am ashamed of anything God has said, any of His words, Jesus will be ashamed of me when He returns. It is either follow God or follow this adulterous and sinful generation. This generation in all its "wisdom" cannot keep me out of God's judgment. Only God can do that. And if I want to be saved, not condemned, then I have to choose to believe and obey the Lord, especially when His words are counter-cultural!
Jul 20, 2023, 7:15 AM
Passage Read: Mark 5-6
Meditation Verses: 6:19-21
Thought
John was arrested by Herod and protected by him from his wife who wanted him dead. Herod knew he was a righteous and holy man and liked to listen to him, but couldn't understand him. That in itself is an interesting statement. There are those who are intrigued by truth but cannot understand. How long was John in prison? Did he wonder if he'd ever get out? Did he hope Jesus would become king soon and release him?
Jul 19, 2023, 7:16 AM
Passage Read: Mark 3-4
Meditation Verses: 4:11-12
Thought
It is not everyone who can understand the Word of God, but only those to whom Jesus chooses to reveal it. I can't make people understand, any more than I can make myself understand. If Jesus doesn't open their eyes, then there is nothing I can do to make them see. If Jesus doesn't open my eyes, there's nothing I can do to understand. I am at His mercy, both for myself and for others.
Jul 18, 2023, 7:18 AM
Passage Read: Mark 1-2
Meditation Verse: 1:38
Thought
Jesus came to preach, but He gladly healed people left and right. He came to bless people, to help them out from under Satan's thumb. He didn't build houses or provide fresh drinking water, He healed diseases and demon possession. He helped the people in ways they couldn't help themselves. He helped the people in ways only God could, but most significantly to me right now is the fact that He gladly and frequently healed them.
Jul 17, 2023, 6:39 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 27-28
Meditation Verses: 28:18-20
Thought
Jesus obeyed His Father to the very last, even unto death. Because of that, the Lord gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth. Because of that we should have confidence to go and tell all people everywhere that Jesus is Lord, that He will rule, but forgiveness can be found in Him, and they can and must walk in Jesus' ways. We should have boldness to speak up for Jesus. And boldness to call all to obey Him.
Jul 16, 2023, 6:40 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 25-26
Meditation Verse: 25:40
Thought
Whatever we do for a believer in need, we do to Jesus. We're supposed to care for each other like family and long-lost relatives. Though we don't know a believer, we should help out as we're able. But especially those we know, we should be willing to help and encourage and assist as best we can.
Jul 15, 2023, 6:41 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 23-24
Meditation Verse: 24:45
Thought
The faithful and wise servant will continue to feed and care for the master's other servants right up to the master's return. When the master returns and finds him so doing, he will put that servant in charge of all his possessions. Jesus puts some servants in charge of the other servants of His household, and being in charge means providing for their nourishment at proper times. But temptation will come in at least two forms:
Jul 14, 2023, 6:43 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 21-22
Meditation Verse: 21:43
Thought
The Pharisees and Sadducees, the chief priests and teachers of the law, they were supposed to be caring for God's kingdom and leading the people into faith and obedience to the Lord. But instead, they muddied the waters and discouraged the people, making faith in the Lord impossible to follow. They were in charge! But they were failing horribly at their task. So the Lord was giving up on them. He was changing everything in fulfilling the Old Testament promises of a New Covenant.
Jul 13, 2023, 6:44 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 19-20
Meditation Verses: 20:26-28
Thought
Jesus served everyone who came to Him, He healed everyone who came to Him, but He didn't grant every request. He served everyone, but not as their absolute slave. There were requests He denied, like to make one brother divide the inheritance. He ultimately served His Father. He came to do the will of His Father, not the will of men. He didn't submit to the disciples when they insisted He not be crucified.
Jul 12, 2023, 6:45 AM
Passage Read: Matthew 17-18
Meditation Verses: 17:17,20
Thought
Jesus sounds pretty frustrated with His disciples and the people, "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" He's frustrated and discouraged because they still don't believe. And it's not just believing in Him, it's because they still need Him to personally heal this boy. When would they believe that the Father loves them and will listen to them? When will they believe that the Father would grant their requests? It cuts my own heart.
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