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
Mar 6, 2024, 8:02 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 14-17
Meditation Verse: 16:9
Thought
Earlier the Lord had told Asa that He was with those who were with Him. He's not necessarily with those who claim Him, but with those who are actually with Him, seeking His will and doing it. He's not on our side, unless we are on His side. Asa then feels threatened by Basha, but instead of seeking the Lord and trusting in Him, he hires the king of Aram to attack Basha and who then withdraws from fortifying the border. God calls that relying on men rather than relying on Him.
Mar 5, 2024, 8:03 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 10-13
Meditation Verse: 12:14
Thought
Rehoboam did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord. It was not the most important thing to him, it was one of many things that was important, perhaps because of tradition, because that's what Israelites were supposed to do. But after a while, he turned his attention away from the Lord; He wasn't that important. And the Lord sent against him the king of Egypt, who defeated him and made him his servant.
Mar 4, 2024, 8:04 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 6-9
Meditation Verses: 7:13-14
Thought
This well-known verse comes on the heels of disastrous conditions that God brings on the people. If the Lord sends pestilence or drought or locusts on the land, it is for discipline, because the people have sinned in some way. He promised that in such circumstances, if His people will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. Repentance is in sight here, because the Lord has brought these disasters because of their sin.
Mar 3, 2024, 8:05 AM
Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 2-5
Meditation Verses: 2:11-12
Thought
Huram, king of Tyre, almost sounds like he believes in the Lord. He's not offended when Solomon writes him that the Lord is greater than all gods, and he responds by blessing the Lord who made heaven and earth! Did David have such an impact on Huram that he believed? Or was Huram just being polite to a greater power than himself. Tyre may not have been as powerful as it eventually became, and he may have considered himself to be at the mercy of Israel. But he was friendly with David, never conquered by Israel.
Mar 2, 2024, 8:07 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 27 - 2 Chronicles 1
Meditation Verse: 2 Chronicles 1:10
Thought
Solomon recognizes his own limitation, and his responsibility before God to rule over God's people. He knows he's not up to the task, but it is the one thing that consumes his thoughts. He isn't worried about money or protection or enemies or fame or long life. What concerns him most is how to lead God's people, how to lead them well, in the way that pleases God most. And God is pleased with this request for wisdom and knowledge so that he can rule them well.
Mar 1, 2024, 8:11 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 23-26
Meditation Verses: 23:30-31
Thought
Certain Levites were set apart to sing thanks and praise to the Lord at the time of the morning and evening sacrifices. The sacrifices were offered to the Lord on behalf of the nation, and they were to be offered at all times, not just on special occasions. Likewise, the singing was supposed to happen, whether there were people in the courts or not. The singing was to God, not to the people.
Feb 29, 2024, 8:13 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 19-22
Meditation Verses: 22:18-19
Thought
With peace and prosperity come the opportunity to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and to build His house. When God brings peace to a people, and they no longer need to be worried for their own lives, then they should turn their attention to the Lord, to worship and proclaim His goodness. In trouble, people should be compelled to seek the Lord for His help and deliverance, though they may not have the time or energy to fully devote themselves to building up His house. However, when peace comes, they should make His house and His name the priority.
Feb 28, 2024, 8:14 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 15-18
Meditation Verses: 17:4-6
Thought
The Lord had no permanent structure within which to dwell, but went about among the people, moving from tent to tent and one dwelling to another. While His people built houses and settled down, the Lord chose to remain mobile and to move about among the people. His tabernacle was set up in Shiloh, but the ark had been separated from it since the death of Eli's two sons.
Feb 26, 2024, 8:15 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 11-14
Meditation Verses: 13:12-14
Thought
The Lord is both very good and at the same time very frightening! David has been so blessed by the Lord, now made king, prospering, and he desires to seek the Lord more and better than before, so he brings the ark to Jerusalem. Incorrectly, though, and as a result, Uzzah dies. David is afraid of the Lord and halts the progression. Obed-edom gets temporary responsibility for the ark, and God blesses his house.
Feb 25, 2024, 8:17 AM
Passage Read: 1 Chronicles 7-10
Meditation Verse: 7:2
Thought
This chapter in particular makes mention of the mighty men of valor repeatedly. This generation of this family or this generation of this tribe. Of course it speaks of men of war, who are always considered men of valor, especially when successful. But there is another war continually being waged, a spiritual war, and among the various generations of these families, some stood strong and held fast to the Lord, and some gave way to the enemy and fell prey to false gods.