Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 8:1-35; Isaiah 5:1-30; Luke 22:54-23:12

For I am the Lord who heals you. Exodus 15:26b, NKJV

The word “abracadabra” was used in ancient days as a magic formula to heal sickness. To experience healing, the name had to be written in a special way on parchment and worn around the neck. Today, there are many “abracadabras” that promise that souls can be healed by good works. However, only by faith in Jesus’ death can we be delivered from our sins. How sad to see multitudes trusting in false cures, when the Scriptures tell us about the Lord Jesus who came to heal. —R. Surgenor

For Jesus shed His precious blood, rich blessings to bestow; Plunge
now into the crimson flood, that washes white as snow. Only trust
Him! Only trust Him! Only trust Him now! He will save you! He
will save you! He will save you now! —J. M. Sammis

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 7:1-26; Isaiah 3:1-4:6; Luke 22:31-53

Prepare to meet your God. Amos 4:12

Nineteen year old Stephen Peer was enamoured by the tight rope walker, Charles Blondin. Peer had been raised near Niagara Falls, Ontario, and aspired to be the first local resident to walk across the Niagara River. He made a failed attempt on June 22, 1887. Three nights later he tried again, but in the darkness, and wearing ordinary shoes, he was unprepared. Unfortunately he fell off the rope and died on the rocks below. Sadly, many people never prepare during their life for a never-ending eternity. The only sure preparation is to place one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). —Arnot P. McIntee

You have wandered far away; do not risk another day; Do not turn
from God your face, but today accept His grace. —D. Whittle

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 5:13-6:27; Isaiah 2:1-22; Luke 22:1-30

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

As Jesus, Saviour, He saves us from our sins. But there is more! As the Prince of Peace, He will confront our anxiety and fear. The great Physician touches our hurts. The Bread of Life satisfies our physical and spiritual needs. As Light of the World, He opens our eyes to His beauty and goodness, and as Emmanuel, He promises to be with us always. Truly, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). —M. MacMullen

Join all the glorious names of wisdom, love, and power, That
mortals ever knew, that angels ever bore; All are too mean to
speak His worth, too mean to set my Saviour forth. —I. W.

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 4:1-5:12; Isaiah 1:1-31; Luke 21:5-38

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

I run a programme at a local college. Before each class I write the names of those who attend in a book. At the end of term I cook a meal for all my students. Occasionally someone will come to the door and state that they were in my class. I simply open the book and check if their name is on the page. If it is not, there is no entrance. A far greater entrance looms for all of us. God’s book lists those who will enter heaven. Is your name written in the Book of Life? —J. Fleming

Book of life! When we departing, bid farewell to friends we love,
Give us, for the life then closing, life, life above. —T. MacKellar

DAILY READINGS: Josh. 3:1-17; Hosea 11:12-14:9; Luke 20:20-21:4

“Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden… Genesis 3:22-23

God knew that, if man in his sin should eat of that tree, he would be confirmed in his wickedness perpetually and without escape. So, God in His mercy, sent man forth from the Garden and imposed upon him a death sentence that would put bounds upon his capacity for evil. Then God set about providing a ransom for fallen man through His Son, giving to man an opportunity to escape eternal perdition. —Doug Kazen

We’ll join the song, for we can tell, how sovereign grace
dissolved the spell That kept us bound in chains; and from
that dear and happy day. —J. Kent

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 2:1-24; Hosea 10:1-11:11; Luke 20:1-19

“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” Amos 4:12

A British newspaper reported on a television programme about dying, entitled “The Last Taboo.” The journalist wrote, “We cannot turn away from the ever present reality of death and owe it to ourselves to make preparation mentally, for the end of life.” That is true but we also owe it to ourselves to make preparation spiritually—that is to say, we should make our peace with God, believing that the death of Christ was intended to allow those who accept Him as Saviour to meet God and to share his abode for ever. Are you prepared? —Brian Powlesland

Life is earnest; when ‘tis o’er, thou returnest nevermore;
Soon to meet eternity, wilt thou ever serious be? —I. Sankey

DAILY READINGS: Joshua 1:1-18; Hosea 8:1-9:17; Luke 19:29-48

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

As Jesus left Jericho, never again to return, two blind men sitting by the wayside grasped the urgency of the moment and cried, “Lord, have mercy on us” (Matthew 20:30). The Lord stood still and graciously healed them both. We are living in the closing moments of the Day of Salvation. Soon the door of opportunity will be forever closed, never to open again. Dear soul, still in your sins, please grasp this—perhaps your last—opportunity to be saved. The Scriptures give this promise. “everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Why not call upon Him now? —W. H. Burnett

Have you any room for Jesus, as in grace He calls again? O today is
time accepted, tomorrow you may call in vain. —D. W. Whittle

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 34:1-12; Hosea 6:4-7:16; Luke 19:1-28

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23, NKJV

While attending a funeral in the small village of Emley, in West Yorkshire, England, I noticed a tombstone dated 1823. The inscription read: “Dear friends do not mourn at my decease, But strive with Christ to make your peace. Life is uncertain but death is sure, Death gave the wound but Christ the cure.” If you’ve not received God’s gift, may you do so today. —John M. Clegg

To God be the glory! Great things He hath done;
So loved He the world, that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life, an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
—Fanny J. Crosby

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 33:1-29; Hosea 4:1-6:3; Luke 18:15-43

And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” Mark 15:14 

Pilate’s question has never been answered, because the Lord Jesus did no evil; rather, He always did what pleased the Father (John 8:29). The Bible describes Him as “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners”, “without blemish or spot”, “pure”, and “perfect” (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:3; Hebrews 5:9). Being the incarnate Son of God, He was and is incapable of sinning. His impeccability makes our salvation unassailably secure. —K. R. Keyser

Happy they who trust in Jesus; Sweet their portion is and sure.
When the foe on others seizes, He will keep His own secure.
—Thomas Kelly

DAILY READINGS: Deut. 32:15-52; Hos. 2:1-3:5 ; Luke 17:20-18:14

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. 1 Thessalonians 1:3, NKJV 

Faith, hope, and love are the cardinal virtues of the Christian life, and they are the three greatest evidences of salvation. Positively, genuine faith leads to works for our Lord (Ephesians 2:8-10); love publicly evidences salvation (Romans 5:5); and hope expresses an alert expectation of Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Negatively, without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), we are without hope if without Christ (Ephesians 2:12), and if anyone loves not the Lord Jesus he is accursed (1 Corinthians 16:22). —W. Ross Rainey

Faith, and hope, and love, a glorious threefold cord;
Virtues from above, through the goodness of the Lord. —W. R. R.