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, 2024, 4:24 PM
Passage Read: Colossians 3-4
Meditation Verses: 3:22-25
Thought
This chapter begins with a command to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things, to seek the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. But then here is this command to slaves, that they obey their earthly masters with sincerity of heart, doing all their work (earthly things, seldom if ever connected to things above) as if serving the Lord. Isn't that a distraction from seeking things above? The way we serve and the reason we serve makes a distinction.
Oct 22, 2024, 4:26 PM
Passage Read: Colossians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:16-18
Thought
I am not to allow anyone to judge me in regards to food or drink or a festival or holy day, including the Sabbath. These things all were important at one time, separating the Israelites from the surrounding peoples, making them distinct and unique, but what really sets us apart is Christ Himself! So no one should have any power over me, I should fear no one who thinks I'm bad for not observing these rules and others like them.
Oct 3, 2023, 7:43 AM
Passage Read: Colossians 3-4
Meditation Verses: 3:5-10
Thought
"Put to death" and "you must rid yourselves" is pretty strong language. Paul isn't saying that, as we have opportunity, we should try to work on changing these things. He also isn't saying that as we are filled more with God's Spirit and His love, God will change these things in us. Paul puts the responsibility on us and calls us to make it the highest of priorities. We're supposed to kill these wrong behaviors in ourselves.
Oct 2, 2023, 7:45 AM
Passage Read: Colossians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 1:22-23
Thought
We have been reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus' physical body and stand before God holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Not by anything we have done, but by trusting in this good news, that it is true, that we are set free from wrath and made prefect in His sight by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But there's a big "if:" If we continue in this faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel, which is this perfection by faith in Christ.