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

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 59 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-32 We are taught, in this passage the power of Christ's calling grace. We read that our Lord called a tax collector named Levi to become one of His disciples. This man belonged to a class who were a very proverb for wickedness among the Jews. Yet even to him our Lord says, "Follow Me!" We read furthermore, that such mighty influence on Levi's heart accompanied our Lord's word

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 58 Wisdom of the Day: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:17-26 Let us see our Lord's perfect knowledge of the thoughts of men. We read that when the Scribes and Pharisees began to reason secretly among themselves, and privately charge our Lord with blasphemy. He knew what they were about and put them to an open shame. It is written, that "Jesus knew what they were thinking." It should be a daily and habitual reflection with us that w

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 57 Wisdom for the Day: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:17-26 Let us see the kindness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Twice in this passage we see Him speaking most graciously to the poor sufferer who was brought before Him. He first addressed those marvelous and heart-cheering words to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven!" Afterwards, He adds words, "Arise, take up your mat, and go home." First Jesus assures him that his

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 56 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31:10-31 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:17-26 The friends of a paralyzed man desired to bring him to Jesus, that he might be cured. At first they were unable to do it because of the crowd by which our Lord was surrounded. What did they do? "When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd right in front of J

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 55 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31:1-9 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-11 We see our Lord Jesus Christ's diligence about private prayer. Although "crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses," He still made time for secret prayer. As holy and undefiled as He was, He would not allow the demands life to prevent regular private communion with God. We are told that "He withdrew into the wilderness and prayed." There is an exam

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 54 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30:18-33 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-16 We see in this passage what respect our Lord Jesus Christ paid to the ceremonial law of Moses. He bids the leper to go and show himself to the priest" according to the requirement in Leviticus, that he may be legally pronounced clean. He tells him offer an offering on the occasion of his doing so, "according as Moses commanded." Our Lord knew that the last days of the Leviti

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 53 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30:1-17 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-16 We also see our Lord Jesus Christ's WILLINGNESS to help those who are in need. The petition of the afflicted leper was a very touching one. "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." The answer he received was merciful and gracious. At once our Lord replies, "I will! Be clean! Those two little words, "I will," deserve special notice. They are a deep mine rich in comfort and

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 52 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29:16-27 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:12-16 We see in this passage our Lord Jesus Christ's POWER over incurable diseases. "A man full of leprosy" is at once healed. This was a mighty miracle. Of all illnesses which can afflict the body of man, leprosy was the most severe. It affected every part at once. It brought sores and decay upon the skin, corruption into the blood, and rottenness into the bones. In Bible times,

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 51 Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 29:1-15 Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-11 We should observe in this passage the mighty promise which Jesus holds out to Peter. "Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men." That promise was not intended for Peter only, but for all the Disciples; and not for all the Apostles only, but for all Christians after the the Apostles. The Apostles were men of like passions. They were weak and frail like the hearts of an