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
Oct 23, 2026, 6:10 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 12-13
Meditation Verse: 13:2
Thought
A church needs discipline. Believers need to put away sin and walk in righteousness. If there are those who are refusing to repent or putting too little effort into their obedience, they need to be rebuked. And if they will not change, they need to be disciplined by the whole.
Oct 22, 2026, 6:20 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 10-11
Meditation Verse: 11:23
Thought
The evidence Paul gives to confirm his status as a servant of Christ, it's all suffering and danger and opposition and deprivation--it's all negative! Did these other "super-apostles" point to that as evidence that Paul was not blessed by God, that Paul wasn't favored by God, that Paul wasn't a real servant of Christ?
Oct 21, 2026, 6:10 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 8-9
Meditation Verses: 9:13-14
Thought
There is a connection between our faith in the gospel of Christ and our generosity toward brothers in need. Because we believe the gospel, we shift our confidence and hope to the age to come rather than this age. We do not want to store up treasure here and now, but then and there.
Oct 20, 2026, 6:16 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 6-7
Meditation Verse: 7:15
Thought
Paul sent Titus to Corinth to straighten things out, and they received him with fear and trembling and with full obedience. Paul commends them for that, and because of it, Titus has much greater affection for them. This, then, is how a congregation of believers should receive one who has much greater knowledge, training and experience in walking with and serving the Lord.
Oct 19, 2026, 6:06 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 4-5
Meditation Verses: 4:2-4
Thought
Because Paul understands that his ministry is from God, so he trusts that God will do the work in men's hearts as he preaches a full and honest and complete Gospel. There are aspects of the Gospel that are embarrassing to confess. There are parts that are too incredible to believe.
Oct 18, 2026, 7:11 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 2-3
Meditation Verses: 2:12-13
Thought
Paul had once come to Troas seeking to preach the Gospel, but instead of an open door for him to preach, he had a dream of a Macedonian man pleading with him to come to them, so he left Troas and went to Philippi. The result was that he eventually made it to Corinth and began the church there.
Oct 22, 2025, 11:52 PM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 12-13
Meditation Verse: 12:6
Thought
Paul could boast about all the Lord has shown him and taught him, and it would be impressive and true! But he doesn't want what was shown him to enamor people; he doesn't want people to judge him for what he has seen. He wants people to judge him by what he says and does. Does he speak truth? Does he live by the same?
Oct 22, 2025, 7:02 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 10-11
Meditation Verses: 10:4-6
Thought
Paul doesn't list the weapons or explain what they are, but only describes their power and effectiveness. They are spiritual weapons rather than physical weapons, clearly. He doesn't whip people or beat them. But he speaks truth to them and explains God's commands, purposes and ways to them. He rebukes them and calls the church to cut off fellowship from the unrepentant.
Oct 21, 2025, 1:05 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 8-9
Meditation Verse: 8:8
Thought
Paul is not commanding them to give a gift, but he wants to test the sincerity of their love for Christ by comparing it to the earnestness of others. It was actually the Corinthians who first thought of giving to the saints in Jerusalem, and their compassion inspired others to do the same. Now there's concern that their initial zeal may have been lost in the busyness of life.
Oct 20, 2025, 8:59 AM
Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 6-7
Meditation Verse: 7:15
Thought
The Lord has said that it is the humble and contrite, the ones who tremble at His Word, these are the ones He honors and esteems. Here, Paul is saying the same thing: As the one who teaches them, who first brought them the Gospel, who longs for their communion with Christ and His acceptance of them, both Paul and Titus have greater affection for those who are obedient, who receive Paul, his messenger and his message with fear and trembling.