Choice Gleanings

Leviticus 8:1-36; Psalm 108:1-13; Mark 1:1-20

If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1 NKJV

In Greek, the title “Advocate” means “one called to another’s side”. When we sin, we need someone who comes to our side, to represent us, and to plead our cause. That is what Jesus Christ does for His people now. God’s desire is that we “sin not”. But when we do, our salvation is not lost. Our Advocate, Jesus Christ, stands for us in heaven before the Father, pleading the merits of His sacrifice for sin on our behalf. We are eternally secure in Him. —David Petterson

Before my God, my Priest appears,
My Advocate, the Father hears;
That blood is e’er before His eyes,
And day and night for mercy cries. —James G. Deck

Leviticus 7:11-38; Psalm 107:1-43; Acts 28:17-31

John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins. Mark 1:6

We can only imagine what John the Baptist may have looked like as he began his ministry for God. However, he wasn’t concerned about what he was wearing, or what others thought of him. His mission was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God. Sometimes we get preoccupied by our outward appearance or by what others think of us, instead of being sure we are doing the will of God. Let us serve the Lord with our whole heart and soul and leave the results to God. —Virginia Strout

Let’s forget about ourselves,
Concentrate on Him and worship Christ, the Lord
Worship Him, Jesus Christ, the Lord. —Bruce Ballinger

Leviticus 6:8-7:10; Psalm 106:1-48; Acts 28:1-16

Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 NKJV

Early in Micah’s prophecy, he laments the degraded state of the people of Israel. Due to their sin and hardness of heart, he says, “The seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners abashed; … for there is no answer from God” (3:7). Some days, we may feel like there is no answer from God. But He is not silent. In our patient faith, God is active. Micah could confidently say, “My God will hear me”. Like Micah, let us wait and trust that God will speak. —Jared D. Fraser

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Your promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Your holy Word. —Carolina Sandell Berg

Leviticus 5:14-6:7; Psalm 105:1-45; Acts 27:27-44

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Psalm 96:9

The Lord’s Supper gives us an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate what pleases the Father about His Son. Our personal relationship with Him deepens when we come together to worship the Lord. For such a solemn endeavour, spiritual cleanness is essential as we worship in “the beauty of holiness”. The Father gives us this privilege of sharing His delight in His Son, and wonderfully increases our joy when we worship Him. —Gaius C. Goff

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His name. —John S. B. Monsell

Leviticus 4:27-5:13; Psalm 104:1-35; Acts 27:1-26

[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:43-44 NKJV

Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, wrapped in burial clothes — far beyond any hope. Yet, with just three words, Jesus called him out of death’s grip. Through Jesus’ own death and resurrection, we too are offered freedom from the hold of death. By accepting His gift of salvation, we can remove our “grave clothes” and embrace new life,
stepping into the freedom He promises. —Alyssa Gee

My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save,
forever, author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave. —Reuben Morgan, Benjamin Fielding

Leviticus 4:1-26; Psalm 103:1-22; Acts 26:19-32

How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? Job 25:4 NKJV

Job was a wealthy, godly man. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was the greatest of all the people of the East. But in one day he lost everything — all his livestock, all his servants, all his children. Afterwards Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Perhaps someone reading this today has suffered a severe loss. Remember God is always on the throne and He makes no mistakes. “Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him” (Ps. 42:11). —Sid Halsband

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing. —Martin Luther

Leviticus 3:1-17; Psalm 102:1-28; Acts 26:1-18

Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Nahum 1:15

This passage is quoted in Romans 10:14 with reference to our Gospel witness, but we can also see our Saviour here as the One who brought good tidings and published peace with God through Himself. Who ever brought good news to this sin-sick world like He did? At His birth, the angels proclaimed peace on earth and good will to men from heaven. Until He returns, we plead with people in Christ’s stead for them to be reconciled to God. —Rick Morse

Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell,
Of the crimson banner, now the story tell. —Daniel Whittle

Leviticus 2:1-16; Psalms 99:1-101:8; Acts 25:13-27

And beginning to sink, [Peter] cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matthew 14:30

Only two men ever walked on the surface of the sea, the Lord Jesus and Peter. The Lord could do so because He is the Creator, but Peter did so only by divine enablement and through faith. Whilst the divine power never failed, his faith did, and that heroic man began to sink. The immediate conditions so overwhelmed his natural senses that he took his eyes off the One who had called him. Do present burdens give you that “sinking feeling” today, dear saint? Don’t be ashamed: call upon the Lord. Remember, Peter wrote from experience, “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12). —Phil Coulson

Kept by His power, whatever dangers lower. —William Blane

Leviticus 1:1-17; Psalms 96:1-98:9; Acts 24:24-25:12

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:15

The Gadarene maniac had just had an encounter with the Christ of God! He who was uncontrollable and a danger to himself and others had been dramatically changed by the Lord Jesus. His activities are different; he is “sitting”. His attire is changed; he is now “clothed”. His attitude is changed; he is sound-minded. What an amazing conversion that only the Saviour brings! —Lloyd Cain

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! —Rufus H. McDaniel

Exodus 40:1-38; Psalms 94:1-95:11; Acts 24:1-23

Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe. 1 Samuel 22:23 NKJV

Abiathar’s family was slaughtered in a massacre ordered by cruel King Saul. Afterward, he sought security with David, who assured him of his unwavering protection. His safety was contingent on the survival and eventual victory of the Bethlehemite warriorturned-shepherd. Similarly, believers’ eternal well-being depends on the Lord’s conquest of every enemy. His triumphant death, resurrection, and ascension ensures our glorious destiny. We are united with Him by faith, as Col. 3:3 says: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” —Keith R. Keyser

No voice but Thine can give me rest, and bid my fears depart;
No love but Thine can make me bless’d, and satisfy my heart. —J. Newton