Choice Gleanings

Judges 4:1-24; Isaiah 25:1-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

I alone am left; and they seek my life … so he departed from there. 1 Kings 19:10, 19 NKJV

Darkness can rapidly overtake us when our eyes are set on the circumstances we see and know. But we forget our God is in control of everything: the seen and unseen, the known and unknown. Nothing suggests Elijah was ever fortified by any of the 7,000 who never bowed to Baal. But his reluctance and discouragement faded when he re-established his dependence upon God. Only then could Elijah depart from both the darkness of the cave and
his unwarranted fear. The same is true of us. —David J. Reed

Why should I fear the darkest hour,
Or tremble at the tempter’s pow’r?
Jesus vouchsafes, to be my tow’r. —John Newton

Judges 3:5-31; Isaiah 24:1-23; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

This beautiful verse of Scripture is priceless. Casting means taking an object and throwing it as far as you can. We should take all our cares and throw them on the Lord. Because He cares, He will carry them for you! Are the circumstances of life weighing you down? Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22). —Jim Paul

He is here, when cares beset us, when our spirits they bend low,
He it is who lifts those spirits, that His love we’d always know.
He is here in all life’s moments, be they sad or be they gay,
And He gives us leave to call Him, in each moment of each day.  —Audrey Morrow

Judges 2:6-3:4; Isaiah 22:15-23:18; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

God called the dry land Earth … and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:10
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. Gen. 6:5

Passengers on a recent commercial space expedition expressed their observations of Earth. One said, “From here Earth sure looks like a perfect world.” The picture is far different morally! “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). By the mercy of God, we can become good — new creatures, “If any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Come to Christ today! —Brian Powlesland

He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to Heaven, saved by His precious blood. —C. Alexander

Judges 1:1-2:5; Isaiah 21:1-22:14; 1 Corinthians 1:1-31

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

Eccl. 4:12 reminds us that “a threefold cord is not quickly broken”, and indeed, all believers without exception, are linked together with the security of a common faith in our Lord Jesus as Saviour, that has secured our eternal salvation. We also share a common hope for time and eternity that is steadfast and sure. But best of all, we share the love of our blessed Lord both now and for all eternity, and one day we will be linked with Him as His holy bride at the
Marriage Supper of the Lamb. —Willie H. Burnett

Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds, is like to that above. —John Fawcett

Joshua 24:1-33; Isaiah 19:1-20:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

For the Lord your God … knows your trudging through this great wilderness. Deuteronomy 2:7 NKJV

The words of an old secular song read like this, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow.” Words like these resonate with many. Is this how you feel today? Like no one knows or understands exactly what you’re going through? The Scriptures assure us that God knows “everything” about us (Ps. 139:1-4). He is aware of “all” our needs (Matt. 6:32). You can rest in His promise that “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isa. 43:2). May His loving presence comfort your heart today. —E. V.

I know my heav’nly Father knows, the balm I need to soothe my woes;
And with His touch of love divine, He heals this wounded soul of mine.  —S. M. I. Henry

Joshua 23:1-16; Isaiah 17:1-18:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ Acts 22:12-13 NKJV

As Paul shared his conversion story, he mentioned the part Ananias played. This dear brother was known to have a good testimony in Damascus. His life was marked by a reverence for God and a genuine love for others. His warm greeting would have meant much to Paul. Later Paul writes concerning elders, “Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside…” (1 Tim. 3:7). Let’s seek to emulate Ananias! —Pete Smith

O use me, Lord, use even me;
Until Your blessed face I see. —F. R. Havergal

Joshua 22:1-34; Isaiah 15:1-16:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:33 NKJV

The cross reveals our wickedness and God’s holiness. We disobeyed His law, and deserve His judgment. His Son became the mercy seat on Calvary (Rom. 3:25 Darby), the place where “heaven’s love and heaven’s justice meet” (E. Clephane). He paid our debt and fully satisfied divine righteousness. Faith in Christ transfers God’s righteousness to sinners, who are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). Praise Him today for His incomparable grace! —Keith R. Keyser

When on Calvary I rest, God, in flesh made manifest,
Shines in my Redeemer’s face, full of beauty, truth, and grace.  —J. Montgomery

Joshua 20:1-21:45; Isaiah 14:1-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV

It is encouraging and liberating to remember that the Lord Jesus Himself said, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). However, through the Spirit, the Lord Jesus gives each believer gifts and ministries for the building up of the body. Most of us serve in local assemblies, while others serve the Church in broader ministries. Our privilege and responsibility is to use whatever resources He has entrusted to us to strengthen and beautify the Church He loves.
As I gather with the Lord’s people, are my words, actions, and attitudes contributing to building up the saints? —David Wilson

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows, the sympathizing tear.  —John Fawcett

Joshua 18:1-19:51; Isaiah 13:1-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

He made His disciples get into the boat … the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land … He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them … He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. Mark 6:45-51 NKJV

Sometimes it is the will of God that we “get into the boat,” even when the winds of circumstance are contrary. We may be rowing against the tide, but be assured that the Lord not only sees our struggle, but He is ready to come to our aid, get into the boat with us, and calm the storm in His perfect time. —Elizabeth C. Bishop

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. —Edward Mote

Joshua 16:1-17:18; Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13

The city of the great King. Psalm 48:2
We have no king but Caesar. John 19:15

How sad that within the walls of Jerusalem, the city of the great King, chief priests would acknowledge only the sovereignty of Caesar! Our Lord was despised and rejected, as He still is in the world at large today, but one day the King of glory will enter into that same city and be welcomed (Ps. 24:7, 9), leading to a righteous millennial reign. What a wonderful day that will be! —Philip A. Kaye

Jesus shall reign wheree’er the sun
Does its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more. —Isaac Watts