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, 2024, 6:58 AM
Passage Read: Song of Solomon 7 - Isaiah 2
Meditation Verses: Isaiah 2:2-3
Thought
Redemption has always been so that we might learn God's ways. When Christ reigns, all the nations will come and learn from Jesus the ways of the Lord. God's frustration in chapter one, His rejection of their sacrifices is because they haven't learned His ways; they've turned the sacrificial system into a means to live in sin yet be forgiven by God for their deliberate rebellion.
May 20, 2024, 6:33 AM
Passage Read: Song of Solomon 3-6
Meditation Verses: 5:2-6
Thought
The Lord doesn't always come knocking when it's convenient for me. Even though I may love the Lord and desire to be ready for His call at any time, there will be times when I feel like it's really inconvenient. He won't wait forever while I hesitate. If I wait too long, even though I finally choose to answer Him, I may be too late.
May 19, 2024, 6:35 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:6
Thought
Ecclesiastes is not a book that justifies laziness, but in taking pleasure in the work of the hands and fruit of one's labor. It doesn't teach a pursuit of wealth and getting rich, but it does promote diligence and hard work in order to provide for one's family and to have something to enjoy. But even that is the worldview of someone who knows there is a God, but doesn't really know what lies beyond this life.
May 18, 2024, 6:37 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10
Meditation Verse: 7:4
Thought
The wise man keeps in mind that his life is finite. The wise man seeks to remember that his days are few and will end in time, in the time of God's choosing, not his own. The man who remembers that death comes for each of us also considers the best way to use the days he's been given. Some men see that all there is is this life; they do not know what comes next, if anything.
May 17, 2024, 6:38 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 3-6
Meditation Verse: 4:13
Thought
This describes Saul and David well, though Solomon was not alive to see the conflict or the character of Saul. But he knew that it was because of disobedience that Saul lost the kingdom to David. It is not good to be any age and forget how to receive instruction, whether from wise men or from God. Saul was not all that old when he forgot how to receive and follow instruction.
May 16, 2024, 6:39 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 30 - Ecclesiastes 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:24
Thought
This is truly the way of most people. Whatever they do, some people recognize that all their labor is just for their stomach. There is no special meaning or value, but they must tell themselves that it is good, that it is worthwhile, that it has value. But so much that is fine under the sun is pointless. There is no real value in it; it all just perpetuates the "circle of life."
May 15, 2024, 10:47 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 26-29
Meditation Verses: 26:24-26
Thought
The one who hates disguises it with his lips, gathering deceit in his heart. He speaks graciously to the one he hates, but his heart is full of abominations. Though he is long successful in covering over his hatred, eventually his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly. What assembly? For sure in the final judgment.
May 14, 2024, 10:49 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 22-25
Meditation Verse: 24:25
Thought
There are several proverbs about the righteous rebuking the wicked, and how important that is. Here it says that the righteous who rebuke the wicked will be a delight and good blessing will come upon them. Will they be a delight to others or will they simply receive delight and enjoyment? Will the blessing come from other people or will it come from the Lord? It certainly has been the case in times past that people appreciated when the wicked were rebuked, as long as they were not also the ones rebuked.
May 13, 2024, 10:50 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 18-21
Meditation Verse: 21:31
Thought
Those who trust in the Lord know that despite all their preparations, victory belongs entirely to the Lord. The horse is made ready for battle, and we need to do everything we can to prepare for whatever challenge faces us; that is the responsible thing. But no matter how much we prepare, it is the Lord who grants or withholds victory. So no matter how diligent I am in preparing to face a challenge, I need to continually seek the Lord and walk in His ways, in order to know His will and do it, and so enjoy His favor, even if He decrees failure.
May 12, 2024, 10:51 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 14-17
Meditation Verse: 16:2
Thought
We naturally justify ourselves; we normally think we are the victims in any unfavorable circumstance. But we are not our own judge, not is another man; the Lord is judge and He sees clearly. He sees all the way into the heart; He sees the motives of a man more clearly than the man himself. So we are not the best judge of our own character, and other people use whatever standard they have assembled, but only God judges justly and truthfully.
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