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, 2026, 11:13 AM
Passage Read: Amos 3-6
Meditation Verses: 6:4-7
Thought
The problem with being wealthy and thinking we honor God is that we can't see the disaster hanging over our people's head. We're blessed, we enjoy all kinds of good things, and we think we honor God, so surely we must be blessed by God. He must be delighted with us! When, in fact, He is disgusted by our selfishness and godlessness.
Jul 20, 2026, 10:29 AM
Passage Read: Joel 2 - Amos 2
Meditation Verses: Amos 2:11-12
Thought
The Israelites mocked God! The young men among them, whom God moved to take the vow of the Nazarite, their neighbors made them violate their vow by forcing them to drink wine. As if it was a game. To humiliate the one who sought to honor the Lord. And those compelled by God to speak warning from Him, they told to be quiet.
Jul 19, 2026, 8:50 AM
Passage Read: Hosea 12 - Joel 1
Meditation Verse: Hosea 12:6
Thought
God's call to His people is to return to Him, to observe kindness and justice, and to wait for Him continually. It is not hard, but it is difficult. It is not hard to return to God, but to learn His ways and do them takes time and effort that we would rather spend elsewhere. To practice kindness isn't hard, but it means we can't cheat or deceive or take advantage of others, and we have to make people more important than making money.
Jul 18, 2026, 10:55 AM
Passage Read: Hosea 8-11
Meditation Verse: 11:12
Thought
God just determined not to execute His fierce anger against Ephraim, because He is God and not man. He can overlook sin and forgive. He is not ruled by His passions; He is bigger than those who continually offend Him. He can take the hit. Instead, He promises to roar like a lion, and at His roar, His sons will come trembling from the west and Egypt and Assyria, trembling because He is almighty, because He has roared.
Jul 17, 2026, 7:50 AM
Passage Read: Hosea 4-7
Meditation Verses: 5:11-15
Thought
Trusting in men and following their commands rather than the Lord's is a dangerous thing. It's bad not just because men know little and are more often slaves to their flesh than to righteousness, but more because God is offended that we would trust our own wisdom over His.
Jul 16, 2026, 8:04 AM
Passage Read: Daniel 12 - Hosea 3
Meditation Verses: Hosea 2:11-15
Thought
God promises to destroy all the resources of His adulterous wife, Israel. He promises to take away all her celebrations, all her treasures and cause all her lovers to turn against her. He will then drive her out into the wilderness, where He will speak kindly to her.
Jul 15, 2026, 8:11 AM
Passage Read: Daniel 8-11
Meditation Verse: 8:12
Thought
On account of sin, Israel was sent into exile. After seventy years, God brought them back to their land. But they would not remain faithful or they would not return in full repentance. Because this awful king who will do away with the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination that causes desolation would be sent against them because of their transgression.
Jul 14, 2026, 7:38 AM
Passage Read: Daniel 4-7
Meditation Verses: 5:21-23
Thought
Belshazzar knew of his father's insanity, both the cause and the reason his kingdom was restored. Nebuchadnezzar lost his kingdom because of his own pride, thinking that he had made Babylon great without recognizing that it was God who allowed it and blessed him. But when his mind returned, he blessed the God of heaven and his kingdom was restored to him.
Jul 13, 2026, 7:01 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 48 - Daniel 3
Meditation Verses: Daniel 3:27-28
Thought
It is good and right to refuse to obey commands that violate the Law and heart of the Lord. But that doesn't mean we throw out respect and obedience to the ruler who gives such a command. These three men still spoke to the king with honor and served him both before and after this incident.
Jul 12, 2026, 8:24 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 44-47
Meditation Verses: 44:15-16
Thought
The Levites failed in their duties, helping the people worship idols. They were not to take the role of the priest on themselves, but like Jonathan the grandson of Moses, some or many found they could advance to the role of priest with idols or foreign gods. Instead of being just a servant or helper, they could be the head guy.