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 23, 2024, 2:03 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 11-14
Meditation Verses: 11:7-10
Thought
There are worthless shepherds and there are flocks doomed to destruction. Some shepherds are called to pasture flocks doomed to destruction. They are flocks with ungodly shepherds who care nothing for the flock but only for themselves, and the flock itself doesn't understand, because they have no hope, they are doomed to destruction. The Lord's shepherd, when appointed over such a flock will come in conflict with those worthless shepherds that have abused the flock, and he will drive them out.
Jul 22, 2024, 2:05 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 7-10
Meditation Verses: 8:16-17
Thought
Before God sent Israel into exile and now, His desire for them has been the same: that they would speak truthfully to one another and judge all things truthfully and fairly, that no one would plot evil against his neighbor and no one lie under oath to harm a neighbor. His instruction has always been to do good to one another according to what He calls good, to be fair and treat each other as we ourselves desire to be treated.
Jul 21, 2024, 2:06 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 3-6
Meditation Verses: 3:5-7
Thought
Joshua was given clean garments; his filthy garments were replaced with these clean garments, symbolizing his cleansing from sin. Then the Lord admonished him, saying that if he walked in the Lord's ways and performed the Lord's service, he would govern the Lord's house and have free access to it. He was made clean, but he had to walk in the ways of the Lord to gain rulership and free access to the Lord's house. The same is true for us: Our cleansing from sin is just the beginning.
Jul 2, 2023, 6:45 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 11-14
Meditation Verse: 13:9
Thought
Two-thirds of the people will be destroyed, but a third will survive. Yet this third will be tested by fire to be refined, ultimately proving faithful to the Lord and saved by Him. The Lord has been betrayed again and again by faithless worshipers. Generation after generation have declared their loyalty only to wander after other gods or abandon all gods and go their own way. Of course God desires to test all who claim to believe and trust Him.
Jul 1, 2023, 6:46 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 7-10
Meditation Verses: 10:2-3
Thought
Jesus says almost the exact same thing in His day, looking on the crowds after going through all their towns and villages. He in effect says they are leaderless, though they have very many leaders and teachers. As in this instance, the problem is with the priests and prophets, the leaders. They follow idols, even while they think they follow the Lord. They are confused, not united. They have all kinds of competing ideas and messages, so the people are lost and scattered and confused, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jun 30, 2023, 6:48 AM
Passage Read: Zechariah 3-6
Meditation Verse: 6:15
Thought
The people of Judah are building a temple right now, but Zechariah is prophesying about the Branch who will be a priest and king, like Melchizedek and in the same place as Melchizedek! When the Branch comes, He too will build a temple, but Zerubbabel will finish this current temple, so the Branch must build a different temple, another new temple. And people who are far away will help build that temple?