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
Apr 5, 2026, 8:20 AM
Passage Read: Job 21-24
Meditation Verses: 21:19-20
Thought
Yes, if only the wicked were punished before our eyes for the wickedness they do, that all knew exactly why they were being punished, then all men would see and fear and turn away from their sin. That's actually what God wrote into the Law for Israel! It's what He established with Noah. And it's what we've been promised will happen when Jesus reigns as king.
Apr 4, 2026, 8:55 AM
Passage Read: Job 17-20
Meditation Verse: 20:3
Thought
This is so great! All Job's friends heard were reproofs which insulted them. They didn't hear what Job was actually saying, all they heard was that he was rejecting their words and insulting them in the process. That gives them even more evidence that Job was in the wrong.
Apr 3, 2026, 9:42 AM
Passage Read: Job 13-16
Meditation Verse: 13:26
Thought
Because Job and his friends are convinced that such terrible things that have happened to him only come on those who do wrong, so Job must conclude that God is dredging up old sins, sins committed in his youth. God must be punishing him for things done long ago. That tells me that Job has learned and grown.
Apr 2, 2026, 9:48 AM
Passage Read: Job 9-12
Meditation Verses: 9:29-31
Thought
Job was righteous; God declared him so. But Job thought that meant he should never suffer harm or any kind of evil. Now he has suffered calamity after calamity, stripping him of every mark of blessing, including his own health. If all his righteousness cannot save from disaster, what's the point of doing good and right?
Apr 1, 2026, 7:03 AM
Passage Read: Job 5-8
Meditation Verses: 7:17-21
Thought
Why does God care about us? Why does God watch us and judge us? Why doesn't He just leave us be and let us go our way? Or just overlook anything we do wrong? Why does He make so much of us and test us? If we sin, what harm does it do to God? If we're just hurting ourselves, what does it matter?