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
Dec 15, 2025, 6:31 AM
Passage Read: Genesis 13-16
Meditation Verses: 16:5-6
Thought
It's interesting that Sarai didn't immediately discipline her maidservant, but first complained to Abram. When Sarai gave Hagar to Abram, it became unclear what her status had become. Did Hagar have freedom to despise Sarai? Was she now Sarai's equal? When Abram affirmed that Hagar was indeed still Sarai's servant, then Sarai began mistreating her.
Dec 14, 2025, 9:24 AM
Passage Read: Genesis 9-12
Meditation Verse: 11:4
Thought
This was likely Nimrod's doing, or else Nimrod took charge of his own family and language group after this and built his kingdom in this region. Nimrod was Ham's grandson; Peleg was Shem's great-great-grandson, and the scattering at Babel likely took place at the time Peleg was born, which was 101 years after the flood.
Dec 13, 2025, 9:39 AM
Passage Read: Genesis 5-8
Meditation Verse: 7:23
Thought
How many countless people, how many countless animals and birds and other creatures died in this flood? Only a small portion was saved: 8 people, 2-14 of each kind of animal and bird and other creatures. A tiny portion of the total alive at the time the flood came. These are not good odds. "As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."
Dec 12, 2025, 8:59 AM
Passage Read: Genesis 1-4
Meditation Verses: 4:13-15
Thought
Cain killed his brother, but felt God's sentence on him was too great to bear! His brother Abel became the first inhabitant of Sheol, Hades, and must remain alone until the next righteous man to die. Who is there to comfort him? But Cain gets to continue living. The ground which he loved and cultivated will now turn against him because of the blood of his brother, he will be a wanderer and vagrant, he will be separated from the presence of the Lord and someone might find and kill him.
Dec 11, 2025, 6:53 AM
Passage Read: Revelation 21-22
Meditation Verses: 21:24-26
Thought
There will still be nations and kings in the new heavens and earth, people groups and tribes and clans and families. Perhaps there will also be leaders of tens and fifties and hundreds and thousands. Perhaps there will be mayors and leaders of five cities and ten cities and governors, as well as kings.
Dec 10, 2025, 2:06 PM
Passage Read: Revelation 19-20
Meditation Verses: 19:1-3
Thought
Wow! Evidently there will be rejoicing in heaven over the destruction of Babylon! It is not all grief over the destruction of these godless, rebellious people. All of heaven roars in celebration at the judgment of God. It has been long in coming, the Lord suffered her existence and corruption for generations.
Dec 9, 2025, 8:37 AM
Passage Read: Revelation 17-18
Meditation Verses: 18:19-20
Thought
The sea captains and sailors and all who make their living from the sea understand what has happened when Babylon the Great is destroyed. They knew all the evil that the city was committing, they enabled it and they profited from it. And they recognize that the destruction of the city is God's just judgment on behalf of the saints and prophets and apostles.
Dec 8, 2025, 7:01 AM
Passage Read: Revelation 15-16
Meditation Verses: 15:2-4
Thought
The only way to be victorious over the beast and his image and his mark is by submitting to death at their hands or by enduring until the rapture. Either way, it doesn't go easy for the faithful. But in the end, they're not bitter or complaining or emotionally scarred. Rather they celebrate the victory and glory of God!
Dec 7, 2025, 10:10 AM
Passage Read: Revelation 13-14
Meditation Verses: 13:7-10
Thought
The will be no place where the saints will find safe refuge. Authority over all the nations and peoples will be given to the Antichrist, and all those on the earth who are not chosen by God will worship him. There will be those who fear His power and they will do as he requires, and there will be those who stand in awe of him and gladly do whatever he asks in their delight and devotion to him.
Dec 6, 2025, 12:06 PM
Passage Read: Revelation 11-12
Meditation Verse: 12:11
Thought
The devil is enraged and labors to lead the whole world astray, even before he is cast down out of heaven! He is at war with all who belong to Jesus. He is trying to deceive everyone, especially those who are seeking to know God. If he can't deceive us, he will attack us in any and every way possible, whether financial or social or philosophical or moral or physical or any number of other ways.