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 17, 2023, 1:39 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 27-28
Meditation Verses: 28:18-20
Thought
Jesus obeyed His Father to the very last, even unto death. Because of that, the Lord gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth. Because of that we should have confidence to go and tell all people everywhere that Jesus is Lord, that He will rule, but forgiveness can be found in Him, and they can and must walk in Jesus' ways. We should have boldness to speak up for Jesus. And boldness to call all to obey Him.
Jul 16, 2023, 1:40 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 25-26
Meditation Verse: 25:40
Thought
Whatever we do for a believer in need, we do to Jesus. We're supposed to care for each other like family and long-lost relatives. Though we don't know a believer, we should help out as we're able. But especially those we know, we should be willing to help and encourage and assist as best we can.
Jul 15, 2023, 1:41 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 23-24
Meditation Verse: 24:45
Thought
The faithful and wise servant will continue to feed and care for the master's other servants right up to the master's return. When the master returns and finds him so doing, he will put that servant in charge of all his possessions. Jesus puts some servants in charge of the other servants of His household, and being in charge means providing for their nourishment at proper times. But temptation will come in at least two forms:
Jul 14, 2023, 1:43 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 21-22
Meditation Verse: 21:43
Thought
The Pharisees and Sadducees, the chief priests and teachers of the law, they were supposed to be caring for God's kingdom and leading the people into faith and obedience to the Lord. But instead, they muddied the waters and discouraged the people, making faith in the Lord impossible to follow. They were in charge! But they were failing horribly at their task. So the Lord was giving up on them. He was changing everything in fulfilling the Old Testament promises of a New Covenant.
Jul 13, 2023, 1:44 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 19-20
Meditation Verses: 20:26-28
Thought
Jesus served everyone who came to Him, He healed everyone who came to Him, but He didn't grant every request. He served everyone, but not as their absolute slave. There were requests He denied, like to make one brother divide the inheritance. He ultimately served His Father. He came to do the will of His Father, not the will of men. He didn't submit to the disciples when they insisted He not be crucified.
Jul 12, 2023, 1:45 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 17-18
Meditation Verses: 17:17,20
Thought
Jesus sounds pretty frustrated with His disciples and the people, "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" He's frustrated and discouraged because they still don't believe. And it's not just believing in Him, it's because they still need Him to personally heal this boy. When would they believe that the Father loves them and will listen to them? When will they believe that the Father would grant their requests? It cuts my own heart.
Jul 11, 2023, 1:47 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 15-16
Meditation Verse: 16:12
Thought
The teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees are both subtle and invasive. Only a little yeast is needed for a batch of dough, but it works its way throughout the whole loaf. The Pharisees loved to debate fine details in an attempt to be faithful to the text, but they ended up making their own rules that led to violating the plain meaning of God's Word. The Sadducees denied the spiritual aspects of Scripture: angels, demons and the resurrection.
Jul 10, 2023, 1:48 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 13-14
Meditation Verse: 13:19
Thought
We talk about sowing seeds in the heart of unbelievers, but according to Jesus, anyone who hears and doesn't believe, Satan snatched the seed from him. So there is no seed left in their heart to water and tend in the hope of it eventually springing to life. That's not how it works, according to this parable. Someone who hears and doesn't understand requires the seed to be scattered upon them again and again, because Satan keeps snatching it away.
Jul 9, 2023, 1:49 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 11-12
Meditation Verses: 11:21-22
Thought
Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago if they had seen the miracles that Jesus was doing. But He didn't do them there. He didn't go where people would have repented, but went to the lost sheep of Israel. And by implication, despite the large number of people following Him, He implies that not many repented. Thousands of people followed Him. How big were the towns around there? Yet He says that none of the cities where He did miracles repented.
Jul 8, 2023, 1:50 PM
Passage Read: Matthew 9-10
Meditation Verses: 10:14-15
Thought
If anyone doesn't listen to our Gospel message, we're under no further obligation to them. Even worse, they have chosen to reject the only chance at eternal life and are left with nothing but judgment. As tragic as that is, Jesus doesn't command His disciples to keep trying, but to walk away. Their choice is their responsibility, not ours. Our responsibility is to take the Gospel to as many people as possible. Whoever will listen, teach them further, but whoever refuses, leave as a testimony against them.