Choice Gleanings

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

Lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead … Matthew 27:64
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead … Matthew 28:7

Thinking they would thwart the disciples, the Pharisees sealed the stone and set a watch (Matt. 27:66). But the thought of taking Christ’s body and lying about it had never crossed the fearful disciples’ minds. Instead, a few women were directed to tell them the wonderful news that “he is not here: for he is risen” (Matt. 28:6). Don’t let Satan cause you to doubt. Believe God and rejoice in the truth today. “The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34). —Pete Smith

Thine be the glory, risen, conq’ring Son.
Endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death has won. —E. L. Budry

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

He is not here: for he is risen. Matthew 28:6

We rejoice today because the tomb is empty and the throne is filled. We remember one today who is alive and alive forevermore. He is our forerunner (Heb. 6:20), gone into the glory before us and one day we shall be forever with Him. We praise and thank God today for this wonderful certainty! —John M. Clegg

Up from the grave He arose;
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose! —Robert Lowry

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

The king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison. Jer. 32:2
I (Jeremiah) prayed unto the Lord, saying, Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. Jeremiah 32:16-17

Jerusalem was surrounded and Jeremiah was in prison. Yet in the light of God’s creatorial greatness, Jeremiah knew there was nothing beyond His God’s power. He worshipped despite the adversity. Whatever our circumstances, be confident in God’s ability to sustain us. Nothing is too hard for Him. —Philip A. Kaye

Trust in Him, ye saints, forever;
He is faithful, changing never. —Thomas Kelly

Leviticus 10:1-10; Psalms 111:1-112:10; Mark 2:1-22

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Luke 23:44

Three times in Exodus, unnatural darkness signaled judgment. In Egypt (Ex. 10:22), it condemned the world’s corruption. At the Red Sea (Ex. 14:20), it marked Pharaoh’s downfall — foreshadowing Satan’s defeat. At Sinai (Ex. 20:21), it revealed the Law’s demand, exposing the flesh. Each brought death: Egypt’s firstborn, Pharaoh’s army, and the sinner under the Law. Then came Calvary. As Christ entered the darkness, He bore judgment for all —  conquering the world, the devil, and the flesh. His death meant light for me. —Hanniel Ghezzi

‘Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow, one bright gleam I see;
Well I know the blessed morrow, Christ will come for me. —G. Tersteegen

Leviticus 9:1-24; Psalms 109:1-110:7; Mark 1:21-45

One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

This man’s testimony was simple; I was blind, and now I see! We don’t read of any prayers for healing, as he said, “it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind” (v. 32). But the man’s case didn’t hinder God’s plan for him, for God delights to reveal Himself in impossible situations. Are you in such a hopeless
state? Ask God to open your eyes of faith to see His love, grace, and power. Discouragement can blind us, but God can restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) as we lean on Him. —Deborah Manera

We must understand that for God to give “songs in the night,”
He must first make it night. —L. B. Cowman

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