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 9, 2023, 2:19 AM
Passage Read: 1 Timothy 3-4
Meditation Verses: 3:8-9
Thought
This is a high standard for deacons. They have many of the same requirements as elders, and they must hold firmly to the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. What are the deep truths of the faith? And why would holding to them require a clear conscience? They obviously go beyond the basics of the gospel, beyond the elementary teachings listed at the beginning of Hebrews 6. But what would they include?
Oct 8, 2023, 2:20 AM
Passage Read: 1 Timothy 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:1-4
Thought
Paul wants us making requests and praying for everyone, especially kings and all those in authority, with thanksgiving, so that we could live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Paul links this to men being saved, coming to a knowledge of the truth. Peaceful and quiet lives should result in men hearing and coming to a knowledge of the truth and so being saved, not pursuing the things of the world so that men are affirmed in their pursuit of the world.
Oct 7, 2023, 7:37 AM
Passage Read: 2 Thessalonians 2-3
Meditation Verses: 3:7-9
Thought
This is a high bar. To work night and day, both to set an example and to provide for their own needs, even while Macedonian churches were sending gifts to aid them, that's exhausting. Did they take turns? He says they were not idle. Of course, if everyone else was working during the day, there would be few people to teach. If he preached in the marketplace during the day, he would mainly be reaching slaves and merchants and people who had no slaves to do their shopping.
Oct 6, 2023, 7:39 AM
Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 5 - 2 Thessalonians 1
Meditation Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:1
Thought
The day of the Lord will come like a thief; it will surprise everyone who does not know that it is coming. But we are not to be surprised by it, but be watching in expectation. We should know the warning signs, so that we are prepared for it when it comes. It should not surprise us like a thief. Even Jesus said that when we see all the signs happen, we should look up, we should be watching for Him. Because we know when to expect Him, neither should we be expecting Him when the time is not right, when the signs have not been fulfilled.
Oct 5, 2023, 7:41 AM
Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 3-4
Meditation Verses: 4:3-8
Thought
When we believed the gospel, we were called to live a holy life, not to continue to walk in impurity. The immediate context has to do with sexual immorality, but holiness is not just about that, but definitely includes that, especially in a society like ours. There is no excuse for believers to practice any form of sexual immorality, nor is there any excuse for us to practice any other form of impurity.
Oct 4, 2023, 7:42 AM
Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 1-2
Meditation Verse: 2:9
Thought
While in Thessalonica, Paul and his team labored night and day while also preaching the gospel to them. He did it so as not to be a burden to them. How were they not exhausted? Was the gospel so compelling to them that it didn't matter how much they worked, they still had to preach and teach whoever would listen? Were the people so precious to them that they didn't care how tired they might be, they delighted to spend time with people hungry to know God?
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.
Oct 1, 2023, 7:47 AM
Passage Read: Philippians 3-4
Meditation Verse: 3:15
Thought
Paul believes everyone who is mature should have his same view of life and righteousness, that they should all consider their own efforts and privileges and achievements as rubbish compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. All who are mature should desire to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, so as to somehow attain to the resurrection.
Sep 30, 2023, 7:48 AM
Passage Read: Philippians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:14-16
Thought
Just by doing everything without complaining or arguing, we can shine like stars in the universe, even as we hold out the word of life. People may not like the idea that we have to repent of our sins to be saved, but we'll stand out because of our lack of complaining and arguing. If we're eager to do what is asked of us, we'll already stand out as so different from everyone else.