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
Jan 2, 2025, 9:27 PM
Passage Read: Numbers 8-11
Meditation Verse: 11:29
Thought
Moses got his wish: This is the promise of the New Covenant, that God would put His Spirit in His people and write His Law on our hearts, so that we would know the Lord, ideally even as Moses knew Him.
Jan 1, 2025, 9:29 PM
Passage Read: Numbers 4-7
Meditation Verse: 7:88
Thought
This would make for a great celebration, and that's what it should have been. Dedicating the tabernacle, celebrating the completion of the house of God, His dwelling place in the midst of the congregation, His presence among them!
Dec 31, 2024, 9:38 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 27 - Numbers 3
Meditation Verse: Numbers 3:9
Thought
All the firstborn males in Israel belonged to the Lord, that meant they were supposed to be dedicated to His service. That was to be their vocation, though since it wasn't all-consuming work and there would be a multiplying of their numbers, the tasks could be spread across more and more people, leaving increasing time to do other things.
Dec 30, 2024, 9:40 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 23-26
Meditation Verses: 24:12-14
Thought
At the time of this incident, they had at least the ten commandments and had been warned against taking the name of the Lord in vain. Perhaps much more of the Law had been given at this point, but not the penalty of a blasphemer.
Dec 29, 2024, 10:36 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 19-22
Meditation Verses: 19:17-18
Thought
It is hatred to not rebuke your neighbor frankly and clearly, and it's a sharing in his guilt. It can also be like seeking revenge against them or bearing a grudge against them. These two sets of commands are bookended by the instructions to not hate a neighbor but love them.
Dec 28, 2024, 10:39 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 15-18
Meditation Verse: 18:25
Thought
The wickedness of the people defile their land, and when God punishes the land, it tries to get rid of the things that actually brought sin upon it. The land didn't sin, so why would God punish it?
Dec 27, 2024, 10:41 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 11-14
Meditation Verses: 14:34-35
Thought
It's interesting that God takes responsibility for the mark of leprosy in the house. What about in clothing or on a person? The Lord is sovereign over all and does control or oversee all that happens in the earth.
Dec 26, 2024, 10:43 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 7-10
Meditation Verse: 10:3
Thought
Those who represent the Lord, those who draw nearest to Him, must hold closest to His Word and ways. He is holy and His holiness will be on display to those who draw nearest to Him, but that means those that draw nearest to Him must be most diligent to know and treat Him with the utmost honor.
Dec 25, 2024, 6:14 AM
Passage Read: Leviticus 3-6
Meditation Verse: 5:4
Thought
Anyone who thoughtlessly swears any oath, whether good or evil, is guilty of sin and must offer a sacrifice. It did not matter if he was aware of it or not. As soon as he is made aware, he must seek the Lord's forgiveness and offer sacrifice.
Dec 24, 2024, 6:16 AM
Passage Read: Exodus 39 - Leviticus 2
Meditation Verses: Leviticus 1:11-13
Thought
This aspect of the priest's job sounds pretty gruesome. They're not unlike a butcher, except they're only cutting the offering into smaller parts for burning, not carving it up to sell as meat. Killing, draining blood, skinning, cutting it into sections, gutting, cleaning, burning.