Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

In the salvation experience of Paul, God has given us a pattern of how He works. Some teach that a person must be regenerated before he can believe. But this is not God’s pattern. His mercy and longsuffering are to those who believe on Him to life everlasting. That is, regeneration, life, comes after belief. Those who believe are born again. Friend, don’t wait on God. He’s waiting on you. It’s your move. Believe! —Carl Knott

There’s a story ever new, it is wonderful and true,
And the best thing you can do is believe it.—John Ferguson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16, KJV

The sign in the bank stated, “Ask us how we can secure your future for only $50 per month.” Many undoubtedly took up the offer to have their financial future secured here on earth. But what of eternity? In light of its vast dimensions, security for this life pales in comparison. Thank God there is good news regarding our eternal future. At no cost to us, but at great cost to Him, He has offered eternal life to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour from sin. Are you eternally secure? —Wade LeBlanc

All my iniquities on Him were laid, all my indebtedness
by Him was paid; All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said,
“Hath everlasting life.” —J. M.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 14:1-52; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Rom. 1:1-17

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:19-20

What a contrast between God and idols. People speak to their idols and get only silence. When God speaks, all are to be silent. Yet even when He is silent, God speaks. As a sheep, silent before its shearers (Isaiah 53:7), the Lord Jesus spoke volumes about His hatred of sin and love for sinners. Friend, listen to God’s message and trust Christ today. —George Ferrier

Jesus bruised and put to shame, tells me all Jehovah’s name;
God is love, I surely know by the Saviour’s depths of woe.
—R. C. Chapman

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 13:1-23; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14-13:14

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6, NKJV 

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:8, NKJV

Isaiah saw the best acts of men as filthy rags in God’s sight. In John’s day, linen was made from a tree with leaves like the willow. From the leaves, white garments were made. The difference between filthy rags and white linen is due to Jesus’ death on Calvary’s tree to make us righteous in God’s sight. —Arnot McIntee

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on the King of grace. —Anne R. Cousin

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 11:1-12:25; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6

God Himself should have been king over Israel, but rejecting His rule brought the nation into chaos. If your life is in a mess, the most likely reason is that you too have rejected God who gave His one and only Son to die for your sins. Not only did Christ die for you on the cross, but He rose again so that He could indwell you and give you a new life, delivering you from the turmoil in which you find yourself today. Put your trust in Him and find cleansing, forgiveness, peace and a life controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ. —David Croudace

Heartaches, broken pieces, ruined lives, are why You died on
Calvary; Your touch is what I longed for; You have given life to me.
—G. & B. Gaither

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 9:15-10:27; Isa. 50:1-51:8; 2 Cor. 11:1-33

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” John 14:5, NKJV

Thomas’ question is worth considering. The Bible speaks of heaven as being up. The Lord Jesus had come down from heaven and now He was going back to heaven. One day He will again descend from heaven and we will be caught up to be with Him forever. Yes, Heaven is up, but the real question is not where heaven is, but how to get there? Jesus answered this question in a wonderful way by saying, “I am the way” (John 14:6, NKJV) Through faith in Him, you can be there. —Rex Trogdon

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no
more, And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair; When the
saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll
is called up yonder, I’ll be there. —James M. Black

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 8:1-9:14; Isaiah 49:1-26; 2 Cor. 10:1-18

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:14-15, NKJV

The solution was simple. Any bitten, dying Israelite need only fix his eyes upon the brazen serpent raised high upon a pole.God, true to His word, performed the miracle. At once the death-process was halted and was replaced by new life. For us, there is an infinitely greater “lifting up,” even the Lord Jesus on the cross, dying for our sins. Look to Him, in sincere, personal trust, and receive the life He offers you! —George Hall

The serpent lifted up could life and healing give,
So Jesus on the cross bids me to look and live:
For “Whosoever will believe shall everlasting life receive.”
—A. T. Pierson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 6:1-7:17; Isaiah 48:1-22; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Martin Luther called John 3:16 the “Miniature Bible”, while Harry A. Ironside referred to it as “The Greatest Text in the Bible.” A young boy, saved through John 3:16, was asked to give a testimony as to what Christ meant to him. He  developed the text under four headings: 1. God Said It; 2. Jesus Did It; 3. I Believe It; and 4. That Settles It. What about you? Why not make this text your text now by genuinely believing on Christ? —W. Ross Rainey

God loved the world so that He gave, His only Son the lost to save;
That all who would in Him believe, should everlasting life receive.
—Author Unknown

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 47:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

I am the resurrection, and the life. John 11:25, KJV

Anyone can make claims. I could walk the streets saying, “I am God!” People would call for the police to take me away. Jesus made such outrageous claims. He said He was God. His enemies claimed He was guilty of blasphemy and was crazy. But He backed up His claims with amazing miracles. He claimed to be the resurrection and the life (John 11). He then stood outside the tomb of a man who had been dead for four days and cried, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43, KJV). And the man walked out of the tomb. That is convincing proof of His claims, written by an eye witness. So what do you believe? —Donald L. Norbie

My faith has found a resting place, not in device nor creed.
I trust the ever-living One; His wounds for me shall plead.
—L. Edmunds

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 3:1-21; Isaiah 46:1-13; 2 Cor. 6:11-7:16

Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world. Psalm 49:1, NKJV

On a trip to the annual flower show in Ayr, Scotland, I was impressed by a floral display centered around four books stacked with their titles on their spines. Three of the books were by the Scottish born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie—“Round the World,” “Problems of Today,” and “The Gospel of Wealth.” The fourth book on top of the others was “The Holy Bible.” It stands above the others in that it contains the gospel of eternal wealth in Christ and also the answer to all the problems of today, around the world, and including your own little corner. —Brian Powlesland

The Bible is the book to read; it meets and answers every need.
When in perplexity and doubt, the Bible points the right way out.
—Author Unknown