Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 8:1-36; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 4:1-11

And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. Exodus 20:25

When the Israelites built an altar, it was to have no hewn stones or steps (verse 26). Pictured in this was God’s complete provision for redemption. He provided the stones, the animal to be sacrificed and there were not even stairs to climb! The message was that no one could approach God through personal effort. In Christ, God came the entire way to earth to reconcile man to Himself. Man cannot work his way to heaven. Salvation is all of
God or not of God! Have you received it? —W. A. Henderson

Thou through deepest tribulation deigned to pass for our salvation;
Thousand, thousand praises be, Lord of Glory unto Thee.
—Author Unknown

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 7:1-28; Daniel 8:1-27; Revelation 3:7-22

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me. Psalm 43:3 

Ted, in his small airplane, took to the air to fly a few hundred miles to visit his friend in a distant city. Some time after takeoff, strong winds and ominous clouds made flying difficult. It was then that he realized he had not checked his all-important compass and radio. Just before crashing into a mountain-side, he wrote two words, “Off course.” Make certain you are not off course on your flight from time into eternity, but may the light
and truth of salvation be yours. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Have you come? —Arnot P. McIntee

Walk in the light! and you shall find your darkness passed away,
Because the light has on you shone in which is perfect day.—B. Barton

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 6:1-22; Daniel 7:1-28; Revelation 2:18-3:6

If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. 1 Samuel 2:25

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34 

“Judge’s Ruling Overturned By Higher Court” the news headline read. God is the supreme Judge. So, if we sin against Him and have no intercessor, we are lost, totally condemned— forever. When Christ, the Son of God, who died for us, intercedes for us, we are totally safe—forever. —D. Logan

Oh, what a Saviour that He died for me! 
From condemnation He has set me free. —J. McGranahan

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 5:1-17; Daniel 6:1-28; Revelation 2:1-17

He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” Genesis 16:8, NKJV

Three questions are on the hearts of most people today. Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? The answer to these questions is found in the Word of God. We are here because of God’s sovereign design. We are to live to the praise of His glory. Our eternal destiny is heaven. Do you realize that you have the potential of representing the God of the universe in your corner of the world, and that being with Him forever can be your lot? Trust the Saviour and these questions will be answered for you. —W. H. Gustafson

Fill all my vision, every desire, keep for Thy glory;
my soul inspire,With Thy perfection, Thy holy love;
flooding my path, with light from above. —Avis B. Christiansen

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 3:1-4:24; Daniel 5:1-31; Revelation 1:1-20

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

Fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and other devastations may strike at anytime and the things of this life are taken away immediately. Some of the old preachers used to warn, “To lose your wealth is much, to lose you health is more, but to lose your soul is such a loss, that no man can restore!” Trust the Saviour today and gain what you can never lose. —E. MacLelland

Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me:
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee. —B. E.

DAILY READINGS: Ezra 1:1-2:70; Daniel 4:1-37; 3 John:1-14

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Luke 18:13

The Gospel is not what human nature would expect. It would be more pleasing to bless the virtuous rather than the profligate, to reward good people instead of wrong doers. But the Bible teaches that “none is righteous” (Romans 3:10) and so we are all in need of the Gospel. Thank God there is
mercy reserved for all who accept Christ as Saviour and Lord (Romans 10:9). —Drew Craig

Mercy there was great and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my guilty soul found liberty,
At Calvary. —William R. Newell

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 36:1-23; Daniel 3:1-30; 2 John:1-13

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. John 7:37 

Only the thirsty need apply: those not thirsty for righteousness neither seek for it, nor would stoop for it if they found it. Satisfying water is available for all who realize their need for the good news from a far country, which is like cold water to the thirsting soul. Over all of earth’s streams are written: “Thirst again.” Only the Lord Jesus could say, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (John 4:13- 14). Are you thirsty? “Let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17). —E. Van Ryn

I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.
—Horatius Bonar

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 35:1-27; Daniel 2:24-49; 1 John 5:1-21

What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me? Jeremiah 2:5

Which one of you convicts me of sin? John 8:46

God cannot sin, not in heaven and not on earth! He is impeccable in glory and in the incarnation. There is no good reason for not believing Him, nor for not following Him. He could turn from us with reason, but He doesn’t! Let us renounce any worldly or fleshly wisdom or attraction, and follow Him with our whole hearts, with fresh love and renewed confidence. He cannot sin, and He cannot fail! —Carl Knott

Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me.
—Charitie L. Bancroft

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 34:1-33; Daniel 2:1-23; 1 John 4:1-21

Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

Why is it that so many people in the world today are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth?” Among the reasons are: they will not endure sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4); they have rejected Christ, who is the truth (John 14:6); they have been blinded by human pride and the vain reasonings and speculations of human philosophy (Colossians 2:8); they love their sin (John 3:19-20). What about you? Have you come to a knowledge of the truth by faith in Him who personifies all truth—the Lord Jesus Christ? —W. Ross Rainey

More about Jesus let me learn, more of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.
—Eliza E. Hewitt

DAILY READINGS: 2 Chronicles 33:1-25; Daniel 1:1-21; 1 John 3:1-24

Thomas said to him, “Lord…How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:5-6

As we travel here and there, the importance of knowing the way is paramount. Mistakes are time-wasting and costly. Thomas’ enquiry about the way to the Father’s House drew a concise and unequivocal answer from our Lord. He propounded no theories and offered no options! “I am the way…no man comes to the Father, except through me.” Do verify that your hope of heaven is rooted solely in Him and in His saving work. Make sure you are
following the right way—Jesus Christ—today. —George Hall

Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way, that leads you into rest; Believe in
Him without delay, and you are fully blessed. —John H. Stockton