The Bemenderfers - Mark's Personal Devotions

November 13, 2026

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 13:24:00 +0000

Passage Read: Titus 3 - Philemon 1 Meditation Verses: Titus 3:1-3 Thought The reason Paul gives for believers to submit to every authority, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle and to be considerate toward all men is because we also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and full of all kinds of hatred and envy.

November 12, 2026

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:12:00 +0000

Passage Read: Titus 1-2 Meditation Verse: 2:15 Thought In the first chapter, Paul told Titus to reprove the Cretans severely, because they are in fact "liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." In regard to the conduct of men and women, husbands and wives, young men, young women and slaves, Paul tells Titus to "speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."

November 11, 2026

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 12:31:00 +0000

Passage Read: 2 Timothy 3-4 Meditation Verses: 4:2-4 Thought We have such a tendency, such a drive to drift into myths and fables--anything but the truth! It is vital that leaders and teachers hold to the truth, preach it regularly and "reprove, rebuke and exhort with great patience and instruction." As much as Paul teaches that love "believes the best," yet here he warns Timothy that unless he preaches the Word faithfully with reproof, rebuke and exhortation, the believers will drift into nonsense--and not just drift, they will gather to themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear!

November 10, 2026

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 13:16:00 +0000

Passage Read: 2 Timothy 1-2 Meditation Verse: 1:8 Thought It is easy to be afraid to be identified with those who suffer because of the Gospel and Jesus Christ. There is a natural, earthly, human desire to distance ourselves from them. Perhaps they went too far in their teaching or their example. Perhaps they were too mean.

November 9, 2026

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 14:02:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 5-6 Meditation Verses: 6:20-21 Thought There is worldly and empty chatter and there are "the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'knowledge.'" There are things that are totally meaningless and there are things that masquerade as knowledge. Both are useless and dangerous to the true believer because they lead away from the faith.

November 8, 2026

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 12:58:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 3-4 Meditation Verses: 4:7-8 Thought It's not just worldly fables that we need to be careful of and alert to, but also these doctrines of demons which include forbidding of marriage and abstaining from certain foods. Really it is anything that distracts from disciplining ourselves for godliness.

November 7, 2026

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:22:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Timothy 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:1-4 Thought A tranquil and quiet life is good in God's eyes if it is lived in godliness and dignity. It helps further God's desire that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Whether that is by the granting of such prayers that reveals the truth and power of God or through the godly and dignified testimony of men and women displayed freely and widely because of the peace they enjoy.

November 6, 2026

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 13:57:00 +0000

Passage Read: 2 Thessalonians 2-3 Meditation Verse: 2:15 Thought The antidote to the delusion that's coming and likely is already working its deception is to hold firmly to the traditions handed down to us from Paul and the original Apostles and the rest of Scripture. They and their teaching were not part of the delusion, but anything that calls us to step aside from anything they taught is.

November 5, 2026

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 13:53:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 5 - 2 Thessalonians 1 Meditation Verses: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 Thought The Thessalonian believers are still suffering persecution, long after Paul has departed. They continue not only to believe in the Lord but they also have desires for goodness and works of faith, which Paul prays God would fulfill and empower. They haven't stopped trusting the Lord, and they have continued to grow in their understanding and obedience and love for their neighbors.

November 4, 2026

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:03:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 4:7-8 Thought God has not called us to remain in impurity, but to be and to grow in holiness. The Gospel is not just a call to forgiveness, but to a transformed life. It is a call to repentance, to turning away from impurity and immorality, and a turning to holiness, righteousness and purity.

November 3, 2026

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:40:00 +0000

Passage Read: 1 Thessalonians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:11-12 Thought This shows the work both of a father and of a Christian leader: to exhort and encourage and implore his own children or his congregation to walk in a manner worthy of God. Salvation is not merely believing some things about Jesus, because the Gospel comes to do a work in the hearts of those who believe, changing those who recognize that it is the word of God.

November 2, 2026

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:37:00 +0000

Passage Read: Colossians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:8-9 Thought As a believer in Jesus Christ, I have been made new, I am called to set my heart on "things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Earthly things I'm supposed to be dead to. I used to live and walk in such things, but I should no longer, not as a redeemed child of God.

November 1, 2026

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 13:27:00 +0000

Passage Read: Colossians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:18-19 Thought Paul covers several ways that fleshly men can lead astray a genuine believer. Here he talks about one who delights in self-abasement and the worship of angels. This man claims to have seen visions and he preaches from those visions, but Paul says those visions aren't from God, but from the man's own fleshly mind!

October 31, 2026

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:08:00 +0000

Passage Read: Philippians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:8-9 Thought Paul says he "suffered the loss of all things." His former life was torn from him the moment he believed Jesus. His former position and future in the Sanhedrin were lost to him. He lost friends and mentors and admirers. He lost family. But other things he willingly gave up:

October 30, 2026

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:42:00 +0000

Passage Read: Philippians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 2:14-15 Thought This is a hard command, but one I need to take to heart. "Do all things" means everything. There are not some things that are alright to grumble or complain through. There are not some things in which it is acceptable to dispute. I need to do all things without arguing, complaining or grumbling.

October 29, 2026

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:34:00 +0000

Passage Read: Ephesians 5-6 Meditation Verses: 5:6-10 Thought I used to belong to the darkness, now I belong to Christ, to the light. Therefore, I must not walk any longer in the ways of my dark, unbelieving days. No immorality, no impurity, no greed or coveting, no filthiness, no coarse joking or silly talk. Instead of fruitless conversation, I should be giving thanks.

October 28, 2026

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:52:00 +0000

Passage Read: Ephesians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 4:14-15 Thought We are no longer to be children. We are no longer to be subject to every whim and doctrine of men, carried away by them, confused and tossed about. We should come to a sure knowledge of the truth. Through the faithful testimony and teaching of godly men: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

October 27, 2026

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:56:00 +0000

Passage Read: Ephesians 1-2 Meditation Verses: 1:15-19 Thought Paul's response to hearing about people receiving the Gospel, whether he led them to Christ or someone else did, is not to doubt the sincerity of their faith, but to give thanks to God and to pray that they would grow in wisdom and understanding in their knowledge of Christ.

October 26, 2026

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:59:00 +0000

Passage Read: Galatians 5-6 Meditation Verses: 5:19-21 Thought "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!" Those are strong words. I cannot and must not do any of those things Paul lists before this statement: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and other things like these.

October 25, 2026

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:32:00 +0000

Passage Read: Galatians 3-4 Meditation Verses: 3:21-22 Thought The Law was never meant to be a competitor with salvation by faith. Rather it was given so that all men would understand that they have fallen short of the righteousness and perfection of God, and therefore need a savior. The challenge of the Law is it seems to make a way for a man to be justified before God by his own efforts; he can possibly prove himself to be as holy and righteous as God.