Choice Gleanings

Leviticus 21:1-24; Psalms 124:1-127:5; Mark 7:24-8:10

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

What a wonderful promise from our Saviour! The two who spoke after His Ascension said, “This same Jesus will come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Paul, speaking of our heavenly citizenship, reminds us that, “We…wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed (fashioned) to His glorious body” (Phil. 3:20-21). “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). Can you say this truthfully today? —Jim Paul

Sad hearts will gladden, all shall be bright,
Good-bye forever to earth’s dark night;
Changed in a moment, like Him to be,
Oh glorious daybreak, Jesus I’ll see. —C. A. Blackmore

Leviticus 19:1-20:27; Psalms 120:1-123:4; Mark 7:1-23

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:20

If there’s one word which summarizes Ecclesiastes, and also the lives of many people today, it’s the word “despair”. This pervasive hopelessness hangs very heavy at times, and the world can only cope by pursuing various distractions. The Christian once walked in those paths (Eph. 2:12) but no longer needs to. Even when the heartaches of life abound, we sorrow not as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). We have a salvation that conquers all. —Rick Morse

In hope we lift our wishful, longing eyes,
Waiting to see the Morning Star arise.  —James G. Deck

Leviticus 17:1-18:30; Psalm 119:145-176; Mark 6:30-56

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You…in a dry…land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 NKJV

David was separated from the sanctuary in Jerusalem during the time of Absalom’s revolt (2 Sam. 15-18). It was during this time that he wrote this psalm, often called “The Song in the Solitudes”. Alone, fleeing the revolt, and away from the dwelling place of God in Jerusalem, David throws himself upon the Lord, and cries, “O God, You are my God!” Bernard Osborne said, “Our vision on the mountain should be our comfort in the valley”. Take a moment to read this psalm, climb the mountain and allow it to speak to your heart! —Jim Comte

He will never, never leave me nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear. —Charles W. Fry

Leviticus 16:1-34; Psalm 119:113-144; Mark 6:1-29

Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us? Exodus 17:3 NKJV

Is this a question you ask when going through trials? We can so quickly focus on our problems and forget what God has done for us in times past. Israel forgot about God’s deliverance from their slavery, how He separated the waters of the Red Sea so they could safely go through, and how He destroyed the Egyptian army. Do we also forget the work done on Calvary’s cross to put away our sin and make us kings and priests to our God? Look up today and enjoy who He is. Remember again what He has done for us, on the cross and in our lives. The difficulties will seem small in the light of His glory and our future with Him. —M. Robins

When by the gift of His infinite grace, I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face, will through the ages be glory for me.  —Charles H. Gabriel

Leviticus 15:1-33; Psalm 119:73-112; Mark 5:21-43

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. 2 Cor. 4:3

Why did the Lord not take us to heaven when He saved us? He has left us here to spread the good news of salvation, to a world which is lost in sin and on their way to an eternity without hope. But it is a world which God loved so much, that He gave His only Son to die on the cross so they could be saved from a Christless eternity. Is the world hearing this message from me? Or is this liberating message of deliverance hidden from them because I never open my mouth? Or, tragically, because my actions contradict what I say when I do tell them? —David Croudace

Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried which grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. —Fanny Crosby

Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:41-72; Mark 5:1-20

And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: “Take… one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ” Joshua 4:1-3 NKJV

Faith’s journey has gifted each of us with intensely moving, precious memories of God taking us through deep  waters. It is almost life saving sometimes, to travel back to that place where the “priests’ feet stood firm” for us; to pick up that stone of remembrance and then make it real again in the place where we live. —S. McEachern

Never a sorrow that He does not share,
Moment by moment I’m under His care. —Daniel Whittle

Leviticus 14:1-32; Psalm 119:1-40; Mark 4:21-41

If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver. Exodus 21:32 NKJV

If an ox gored a child and the child died, the family could impose a fine on the owner of the ox. If a servant is gored and died then the fine is thirty shekels. In Zechariah 11:12, there is a request for “severance pay” and the sum given for a good shepherd is thirty pieces of silver. The Jews placed this value on the Lord Jesus in giving this amount to Judas to betray Christ. In the Father’s estimation, the Son is the Beloved in whom His soul delights. To us who  believe He is precious. —Gary McBride

Thirty pieces of silver, for the Lord of life they gave;
Thirty pieces of silver—only the price of a slave!  —William Blane

Leviticus 13:24-59; Psalm 118:1-29; Mark 4:1-20

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. John 3:36 NKJV

All of God’s plan of salvation centres in and on His Son (John 3:35). God’s righteousness holds each sinner accountable for their debt of each sin. No sinner can pay the debt of even one sin, because every “good deed” is tainted by sin (Rom. 3:12). A just God must receive full payment. God’s love provided an even greater payment than He required for humanity’s sins. His Son’s sacrifice on the cross, climaxed by His cry, “It is finished,” affirming that full payment had been made. Christ’s resurrection affirms this. The payment is effective only for those who believe in the Son—who paid their debt and gives them everlasting life. Have you come to Him and put your faith in Him? —David W. Oliver

It is finished, loud He cried; oh what love for me He died.
In my stead He bled on Calvary; once for all Christ rescued me. —R. Hamilton

Leviticus 12:1-13:23; Psalms 116:1-117:2; Mark 3:13-35

And he took it down and wrapped it in linen and laid it in a sepulchre. Luke 23:53

Though not one word that Joseph of Arimathaea spoke is recorded, his actions showed that he had a tremendous appreciation of the Saviour. Evil hands had placed the Lord upon a cross and now the loving hands of Joseph took Him down. It was costly for Joseph to do what he did. It cost him his reputation in the eyes of men. It cost him his religious standing, disqualifying him from the upcoming Passover celebration (Num. 9:6). Materially, it cost him
as well, giving up his own tomb. It still is costly to follow the Saviour, but do you think for a moment Joseph  regretted it? Do we?  — John M. Clegg

Jesus, we ne’er can pay, the debt of love we owe;
Yet grant us day by day, our gratitude to show. —S. Stennett

Leviticus 11:1-47; Psalms 113:1-115:18; Mark 2:23-3:12

So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Daniel 6:4 NKJV

The standard of righteousness set for us today is just as high. If I am God’s representative in my sphere of influence, my testimony should be no less impressive than Daniel’s was in his day. Suppose determined analysts, with a malicious agenda, carefully combed through my business practices and performance and surveilled my after-hour activities—would they find anything to accuse me of, other than Christ having first place? —Peter Ramsay

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct, His likeness shall see.  —W. D. Longstaff