Psalm of the Day: Psalm 132:1-18
Wisdom of the Day: Proverbs 7:15-27
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-28
We should notice the clear knowledge of duty to God and man, which the Jews in our Lord's time possessed. We read that the lawyer said, in reply to our Lord's question, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." That was well spoken. A clearer description of daily practical duty could not be given by the most thoroughly instructed Christian in the present day.
The words of the lawyer are very instructive in two points. For one thing, they show us how great were the privileges of religious knowledge which the Jews enjoyed under the Old Testament compared to the heathen world. A nation which possessed such principles of duty as those now before us was immeasurably in advance of Greece and Rome.
For another thing, the lawyer's words show us how much clear head-knowledge a person may possess, while his heart is full of wickedness! Here is a man who talks of loving God with all his soul, and loving his neighbor as himself while he is actually "tempting" Christ, and trying to do Him harm, and, anxious to justify himself and make himself out a charitable man!
Let us ever beware of this kind of religion. Clear knowledge of the head, when accompanied by determined impenitence of heart is a most dangerous state of soul. "If you know these things," says Jesus, "happy are you if you do them" (John 13:17). Let us not forget to apply the high standard of duty which it contains, to our own hearts, and to prove our own selves. Do we love God with all our heart, and soul, and strength, and mind? Do we love our neighbor as ourselves? Where is the person that could say with perfect truth, "I do?" The best of us, however holy we may be, come far short of perfection. Passages like this, should teach us our need of Christ's blood and righteousness. May we not forget our principles, and that we may show the world that by them we desire to live.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, help me to you love you with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind; and my neighbor as myself.
Action Plan: Research what it looks like to love God in this manner. What are some verses that show us how.
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
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