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
May 26, 2025, 8:05 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:5
Thought
I do not know the path of the wind, but men are beginning to understand how the body is formed in the womb. That doesn't make it any less marvelous, and neither does that mean we understand it all. But given this verse, it means we can begin to understand the ways of God who makes all things. God tells Jeremiah that the one who boasts should boast that he knows the Lord. So Solomon is right in that I cannot understand all that God is doing in the lives of every person, but I can understand God.
May 25, 2025, 6:44 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10
Meditation Verses: 8:16-17
Thought
Here is Solomon's most interesting confession: He used all his wisdom to try to understand all God is doing with men on the earth, and he found it impossible. Whatever God's principles are that He uses to guide His interactions and purposes with men, even the wisest of men cannot figure it out. That's not to say that God is capricious, but that His ways truly are so far above ours. No matter how wise a man may be, he still needs God to explain things to him.
May 24, 2025, 11:46 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 3-6
Meditation Verses: 4:4-6
Thought
There is so much in here about contentment, whether you really understand all that God is doing or have no clue. Even if someone doesn't believe in God and eternal life, why do they bother to work and work and work to gather wealth if they never take time to enjoy the fruit of their labor? What's the point? Better to regularly take time to enjoy what you have than to spend your years laboring for wealth and never stop to enjoy rest or the reward of your wealth!
May 23, 2025, 6:44 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 30 - Ecclesiastes 2
Meditation Verses: Ecclesiastes 2:22-25
Thought
Because of death, all our labors are ultimately for nothing. Is just marking time and keeping us above until we die. But death is inevitable, so nothing on this earth really means anything. It's all temporary, and just for keeping us out of trouble until we finish our course. That is depressing and infuriating! Why bother? Because we need to feed ourselves. Why labor for great wealth and many precious things? There is no good reason.
May 19, 2024, 1:35 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:6
Thought
Ecclesiastes is not a book that justifies laziness, but in taking pleasure in the work of the hands and fruit of one's labor. It doesn't teach a pursuit of wealth and getting rich, but it does promote diligence and hard work in order to provide for one's family and to have something to enjoy. But even that is the worldview of someone who knows there is a God, but doesn't really know what lies beyond this life.
May 18, 2024, 1:37 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10
Meditation Verse: 7:4
Thought
The wise man keeps in mind that his life is finite. The wise man seeks to remember that his days are few and will end in time, in the time of God's choosing, not his own. The man who remembers that death comes for each of us also considers the best way to use the days he's been given. Some men see that all there is is this life; they do not know what comes next, if anything.
May 17, 2024, 1:38 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 3-6
Meditation Verse: 4:13
Thought
This describes Saul and David well, though Solomon was not alive to see the conflict or the character of Saul. But he knew that it was because of disobedience that Saul lost the kingdom to David. It is not good to be any age and forget how to receive instruction, whether from wise men or from God. Saul was not all that old when he forgot how to receive and follow instruction.
May 16, 2024, 1:39 AM
Passage Read: Proverbs 30 - Ecclesiastes 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 2:24
Thought
This is truly the way of most people. Whatever they do, some people recognize that all their labor is just for their stomach. There is no special meaning or value, but they must tell themselves that it is good, that it is worthwhile, that it has value. But so much that is fine under the sun is pointless. There is no real value in it; it all just perpetuates the "circle of life."
Apr 30, 2023, 6:51 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2
Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:4
Thought
Conditions are often less than ideal for what needs to be done. If there is a work that needs to be done, there will always be excuses that can be found to not do it. I cannot let conditions dictate whether or not I do a work that needs to be done.
Apr 29, 2023, 6:53 AM
Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10
Meditation Verses: 9:16-18
Thought
Wisdom is better than strength, but few if any really appreciate wisdom or honor it. Though wisdom may get a chance to show its power and benefit, men almost always return to praising strength and power. So wisdom is forgotten and men return to sin. It takes real effort to hold onto wisdom. If no effort is made to retain it, it will be lost in the overwhelming noise of sin and folly.