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
Mar 14, 2025, 6:56 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 34 - Ezra 1
Meditation Verse: 2 Chronicles 34:21
Thought
Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law, and knew the Lord was angry with Judah, even though he had begun making reforms, he had begun seeking the Lord. Nothing bad was happening to them at the time, and Josiah was bringing things in line with what he knew of God. Yet just by reading the Law, he knew God was furious with Judah. He sent to a prophetess for confirmation, and the Lord confirmed his fears.
Mar 13, 2025, 6:57 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 30-33
Meditation Verses: 30:10-11
Thought
Hezekiah called all the Israelites to return to the Lord, even those remaining in the northern kingdom, after Assyria had overthrown and deported the rest of the people. He sent couriers to call the people to repentance and to Jerusalem for a Passover celebration.
Mar 12, 2025, 7:08 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 26-29
Meditation Verses: 29:5-9
Thought
Ahaz thought he was defeated because the gods of Damascus were stronger than the Lord, so he shut down the worship of God in His temple and set up idols and turned the people to greater faithlessness. When he came to the throne, Hezekiah understood why they were suffering and weak and defeated: It was because they had forsaken the Lord in the days of their fathers.
Mar 11, 2025, 6:59 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 22-25
Meditation Verse: 24:20
Thought
This is the other side of the promise, "When you are with the Lord, He is with you." If we forsake the Lord, He turns away His blessing and help from us. He does so to warn us and rebuke us, that we would acknowledge our guilt and repent. Joash, who was saved by Jehoaida the priest and brought to the throne because of him, turned away from the Lord after his death.
Mar 10, 2025, 7:12 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 18-21
Meditation Verses: 19:2-3
Thought
Jehoshaphat is such an interesting king. He had set his heart on seeking the Lord, but had this one significant fault: He loved those who hate the Lord! He allied himself with Ahab and with his son, and both times had tragedy strike or almost strike.
Mar 9, 2025, 7:06 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 14-17
Meditation Verse: 16:9
Thought
This famous promise comes in the context of Asa using treasures to buy the help of a foreign king to distract Israel. Asa did so well early on and up to this point. Surely he didn't turn against the Lord all at once.
Mar 8, 2025, 6:41 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 10-13
Meditation Verses: 12:6-9
Thought
From such heights to such lows, in one generation. David loved the Lord and desired to build a temple for Him, but God put him off. He honored David for his devotion, but handed the task of building the temple to his son Solomon. Solomon did what was required and built everything as David had been shown, but Solomon's devotion faded over the years, for he loved many foreign wives. Yet the temple was beautiful and filled with treasures.
Mar 7, 2025, 6:53 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 6-9
Meditation Verses: 9:22-24
Thought
Solomon at his height was as close to Christ in His kingdom as we'll see in this age. The prosperity and fame and recognition, this is what it will be like when Jesus reigns. All the kings of the earth will seek audience with Him and all the nations will stream to Him to see and worship Him. This is what we have to look forward to!
Mar 6, 2025, 5:43 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 2-5
Meditation Verses: 5:7-9
Thought
All the beauty of the temple, the curtains and decorations and lamp stands and gold tables for the bread of the Presence and everything else inside the temple, these were all only for the Lord and His priests. No one else was allowed entry; no one else could see the things inside the temple, but perhaps a vague glimpse now and then.
Mar 5, 2025, 7:58 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 27 - 2 Chronicles 1
Meditation Verses: 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Thought
This was an amazing offer: Solomon could ask for anything, and it would reveal what was uppermost in his heart, at the time. Early on, of course, he was overwhelmed with the task of governing God's people.