Psalm of the Day: Psalm 75:1-10 Wisdom of the Day: Job 1:1-12 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38 In the last place, our Lord assures His disciples that the practice of the high standard of charity He recommends, shall bring its own REWARD. At times, a man may seem to get nothing by his Christ-like conduct. He may appear to reap nothing but ridicule, contempt, and injury. His kindness may sometimes tempt men to take advantage of him. His patience and forbearance may be abus

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 74:13-23 Wisdom for the Day: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38 In the fourth place, our Lord shows His disciples that in discharging their duty to their neighbors, they should look to the example of God. If they call themselves "children of the Highest," then they should consider that their Father is "kind to the unthankful and the evil," and they should learn from Him to be merciful, even as He is merciful. The extent of God'

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 74:1-12 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38 In the third place, our Lord points out to His disciples the necessity of their having a HIGHER STANDARD OF DUTY to their neighbor than the people of this world. He reminds them that to love those who love them, and do good to those who do good to them, and lend to those of whom they hope to receive is to act no better than the sinner who knows nothing of the Gospel.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73:13-28 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 7:16-29 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38 In the second place, our Lord lays down a golden principle for the settlement of doubtful cases. He knew well that there will always be occasions when the line of duty towards our neighbor is not clearly defined. He knew how much self-interest and private feelings, will sometimes dim our perceptions of right and wrong. He supplies us with a precept for our guidance

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73:1-12 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 10:11-20 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38 The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ is confined to one great subject. That subject is Christian charity, or love. Charity is the bond of perfectness without which a man is nothing in God's sight. In the first place, our Lord explains the nature and extent of charity. The disciples might ask: WHOM are we to love? He bids them to "Love their enemies. Do good to thos

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 72:1-20 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 10:1-10 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:20-26 Let us notice who they are, to whom our Lord addresses the solemn words, "WOE unto you!" Who are the people to whom our Lord says, "Woe unto you?" They are the men who refuse to seek treasure in Heaven because they love the good things of this world better; and will not give up their money, if need requires, for Christ's sake. They are the men who prefer the joys and

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 71:13-24 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:20-26 Let us first notice who they are, whom the Lord Jesus pronounced BLESSED. The list is a remarkable and startling one. It singles out those who are "poor," and those who "hunger" those who "weep," and those who are "hated" by man. These are the people to whom the great Head of the Church says, "Blessed are you!" We must take good heed that we do not misunderstand our

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 71:1-12 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:12-19 Let us observe in these verses that one whom our Lord chose to be an apostle, was a false disciple and a traitor. That man was Judas Iscariot. We cannot for a moment doubt, that in choosing Judas Iscariot, our Lord Jesus knew well what He was doing. Like everything which our Lord did it was done advisedly, deliberately, and with deep wisdom. It conveyed lessons of hig

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 70 Wisdom for the Day: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:12-19 Let us observe how little we are told of the worldly position of the first ministers of the Christian Church. Four of them, we know, were fishermen. One of them, at least, was a tax-collector. Most of them, probably, were Galileans. Not one of them, so far as we can see from the New Testament — was great, or rich, or noble, or highly connected. Not one was a Pharisee, or S

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 69:17-36 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 7:16-29 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:12-19 Let us observe that when our Lord ordained His first ministers, He did it after much prayer. We read that He "went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. When morning came, He called His disciples unto Him, and He chose twelve of them, whom He named apostles." We need not doubt that there is a deep significance in this special mention

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 69:1-16 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 7:1-15 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:6-11 We are taught in these verses act of faith. The lesson is conveyed to us in a striking manner. The Lord said to the man whose hand was withered, "Stretch forth your hand." The command seems unreasonable because the man's obedience was apparently impossible. But the poor sufferer was not stopped by any doubt. At once we read that he made the attempt to stretch forth his

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 68 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:6-11 We are taught in these verses the perfect knowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ possesses of men's thoughts. We see this in the language used about Him, when the Scribes and Pharisees were watching Him. We read that "He knew their thoughts." Expressions like this are among the many evidences of our Lord's divinity. It belongs to God alone, to read hearts. He who could discer

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 67 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:1-5 We should notice in this passage how graciously our Lord Jesus Christ pleaded the cause of His disciples, and defended them against their accusers. We are told that He answered the accusations of the Pharisees with arguments by which they were silenced, if not even convinced. He did not leave His disciples to fight their battle alone. He came to their rescue, and spoke for th

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 66 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Scripture Reading: Luke 6:1-5 We should notice in this passage what excessive importance hypocrites attach to trifles. The Pharisees did not find fault with the disciples eating. It was an action sanctioned by the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 23:25). The supposed fault was the breach of the fourth commandment. They had done work on the Sabbath, by taking and eating a handful of food. This exaggerated zeal of t

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 65 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:33-39 We should observe how gently and tenderly Christ would have His people deal with young and inexperienced Christians. He teaches us this lesson by two parables, drawn from the affairs of daily life. He shows the folly of sewing "new cloth on an old garment," or of putting "new wine into old wineskins." Let us settle it in our minds, that grace must have a beginning in every

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 64 Wisdom for the Day: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:33-39 We should observe, secondly, in these verses the name by which our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of Himself. Twice He calls Himself "the Bridegroom." The name "bridegroom," like every name applied to our Lord in the Bible, is full of instruction. It is a name particularly comforting and encouraging to all true Christians. It teaches the deep and tender love with which Jesus r

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 63 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:33-39 We should observe in these verses that men may disagree on the lesser points of religion, while they agree on its weightier matters. We have this brought out in the alleged difference between the disciples of John the Baptist, and the disciples of Christ. The question was put to our Lord, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but w

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 62 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 We are taught one of the chief objects of Christ's coming into the world. We have it in the well-known verse, "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." This is that great lesson of the Gospel which, in one form or another, we find continually taught in the New Testament. We need to be frequently reminded that Jesus did not come merely as a teacher,

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 61 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 We are taught, thirdly, in this passage that converted souls desire to promote the conversion of others. When Levi was converted and had made a feast on the occasion, he invited a great company of tax-collectors and others to share it. Most probably these men were his old friends and companions. He knew well what their souls needed, for he had been one of them. He desired

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 60 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 We are taught, secondly, in this passage that conversion is a cause of joy to a true believer. We read, that when Levi was converted, he made a "great feast in his own house." A feast is made for laughter and merriment. Levi regarded the change in himself as an occasion of rejoicing, and wished others to rejoice with him. We can easily imagine that Levi's conversion was a