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
Jan 25, 2023, 6:51 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 2-5
Meditation Verse: 2:40
Thought
Shimei had agreed to the terms to never again leave Jerusalem, but perhaps after three years he'd forgotten why he always remained in Jerusalem. Or maybe he thought just one little trip to fetch his runaway slaves would be all right. Jerusalem was a walled city with gates and surely guards at the gates, and those guards probably had standing orders to watch for Shimei. Evidently no one warned Shimei that he was about to violate the king's command.
Jan 31, 2022, 7:06 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 18-21
Meditation Verse: 21:29
Thought
As if Ahab might truly repent! God is so merciful to him, yet there is no indication that he truly and fully repented. Why would God give him this grace, that the evil prophesied would not come on him but on his sons? God is so merciful, even to someone as stubborn as Ahab. The Lord truly does not take away life, but desires that all men repent, and gives much time and opportunity to rebellious men, that they might instead be saved.
Jan 30, 2022, 7:07 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 14-17
Meditation Verses: 16:3-6
Thought
Both Jehu and Basha were warned about their sin and the judgment God had prepared against them. But the judgment didn't come on them, but on their sons. Both Jehu and Basha died in relative peace and we're buried. But their sons were killed and all their descendants cut off. So God warned them, then gave them the rest of their lives to repent and avoid the consequences of their sin. Neither used the time to repent, both continued on their evil ways and their families suffered for it.
Jan 29, 2022, 7:09 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 10-13
Meditation Verses: 13:16-19
Thought
God's word is true and reliable. What He has spoken in Scripture is true and right. If anyone tells me to do something contrary to what is taught in the Bible, I must not believe or obey them, no matter how godly or spiritual they may seem or claim to be. God does not give conflicting instruction. By His Spirit, He recorded the Bible, and if anyone comes with a "message from God" that does not agree with Scripture, I must not believe them, because it is not from God.
Jan 28, 2022, 7:10 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 6-9
Meditation Verses: 9:6-9
Thought
The Lord accepted the house as a dwelling place for His name, but it was not the house itself that would keep the Lord and His blessing there. His continued favor and presence depended on the obedience of the kings and the people. If the kings turned away from the Lord, the Lord would not overlook it in order to protect His house. If the people turned from His ways, the Lord would not ignore for the sake of His house.
Jan 27, 2022, 7:12 AM
Passage Read: 1 Kings 2-5
Meditation Verse: 3:14
Thought
Solomon was enjoying the fulfillment of a promise given to David. He was king because God had promised David to build an enduring legacy for him. He wasn't king because he was so great and wise, but because of the promise to David. However, he would affirm God's promise to David and keep it going by how he responded to the Lord. If he feared the Lord and walked in His ways, God would extend his life and continue His promise to David.