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
Jul 2, 2024, 6:57 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 44-47
Meditation Verses: 44:23-24
Thought
So the priests will teach the people to obey the Law of Moses in all is points, including the laws of cleanness and uncleanness. Whenever there is a dispute, they will judge the people according to all God's laws and statutes. So the Law with be the law of the land of Israel, and if this really points to the millennial reign of Christ, then the Law will likely be the law of all lands. The Law has never been done away with and is still God's standard of righteousness on earth, and will continue to be.
Jul 1, 2024, 6:58 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 40-43
Meditation Verses: 43:6-11
Thought
A voice comes from the temple with a man standing beside Ezekiel, saying that this is His dwelling place forever among the Israelites. The Israelites are to remove the dead bodies of their kings from near Him when they die, which implies that this temple must yet be during the reign of Christ, when there are people who can die living on the earth. Is it the Father speaking, on behalf of His Son? Is it the Son standing beside Ezekiel?
Jun 30, 2024, 7:00 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 36-39
Meditation Verses: 36:33-36
Thought
These prophecies of Israel being restored to their land have been partially fulfilled: They have been restored to their land and it is miraculous. But they have not had wickedness removed far from them. They have been blessed and they have made the desert bloom, but it is still a far cry from the garden of Eden. And the Israelis have done it, not the Lord. Some may credit the Lord, but man is ingenious and able to accomplish much when he puts his mind to it. That's why God confused the language at Babel, because man is able to do mighty things, as if to compare with the power of God.
Jun 29, 2024, 7:01 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 32-35
Meditation Verses: 34:2-6
Thought
The shepherds of Israel didn't care for the Lord's flock, they didn't care for the welfare of the people, but only their own welfare. They abused the sheep and used the sheep, but couldn't be bothered to care for the needy among the sheep. They were too lazy and too busy with their own pleasures. The weak and needy were too troublesome and time-consuming. The leaders let the people go off after whatever gods they wanted. They let the people behave however they wanted.
Jun 28, 2024, 7:03 AM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 28-31
Meditation Verses: 29:6-7
Thought
The Lord promises destruction on Egypt because they were an unreliable help to Israel. Most of the nations around Israel have derided them and mocked them and rejoiced over Israel's misery, so the Lord has promised to destroy them. But Egypt offered aid, made an alliance with Israel. But when time came for Egypt to help, they were no help at all, and the Lord counts this against them. The Lord also holds against Israel this covenant they made with Egypt.
Jun 27, 2024, 3:04 PM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 24-27
Meditation Verse: 24:14
Thought
Israel is beloved by the Lord. Jerusalem is His chosen dwelling place. Yet they have defiled themselves; they have cast off restraint and tossed aside the Law of the Lord. They do as they please. They do as the nations who do not know God do. They are not ashamed of their ways, they are not afraid to do what the Lord has forbidden or to turn away from what the Lord has commanded. So the Lord prepares disaster for them that He will not be sorry for. He will not relent or pity those of Israel who reject Him and His ways.
Jun 26, 2024, 3:06 PM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 20-23
Meditation Verses: 20:33-38
Thought
God is so frustrated by His people. They continually go astray. They continually turn away from Him and embrace idols and go their own wicked way. They have profaned Him and His house again and again. They never seem to learn. So He promises that with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, He will gather them and enter into judgment against them and purge the rebellious from them and rule over them. He will be King over them and they will walk in obedience to Him; He will force them to obey.
Jun 25, 2024, 3:07 PM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 16-19
Meditation Verses: 18:19-22
Thought
Why would anyone be upset that the son does not bear the consequences of the father's sin? Why would Israel say that the Lord is unjust because he doesn't bring punishment on the son, who did no evil, for the sin of his father? It makes no sense! Unless the sons want to believe they are innocent, and the only reason they suffer at present is because of the sins of their fathers.
Jun 24, 2024, 3:08 PM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 12-15
Meditation Verses: 14:3-8
Thought
God sees the heart. He knows who seeks Him in truth and who seeks Him as just another possibility. In Israel, they had idols carved on the walls of the temple or standing around the temple or on every high hill and under every spreading tree. They had physical idols that could be seen and touched and carried. When they went into exile, not all of them abandoned their idols. They couldn't carry the physical form with them, but they could carry them in their hearts.
Jun 23, 2024, 3:10 PM
Passage Read: Ezekiel 8-11
Meditation Verses: 11:17-21
Thought
The exiles are considered by those still in Jerusalem to be those rejected by God, but God has instead removed them from the land in order to protect them from the disaster He has planned against those who refuse to believe and obey Him. He will preserve the exiles, then bring them back to the land, when He is finished punishing those who remain in the land.