Choice Gleanings

Numbers 26:52-27:23; Proverbs 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. Josh. 2:21 NKJV

From this point forward, every time Rahab looked out her window, her view of the world was shaped by the scarlet cord. Instead of impending judgment she saw impending deliverance. Instead of despair there was peace. This word “cord” is translated in other passages as “hope”. How suggestive and lovely for us to meditate on. Our hope in Christ should change our worldview. The turmoil and evil we see all around, one day will be set right by His righteous
return. And the sorrows we may be personally struggling with this very day, somehow are lightened and even tempered with joy, as we view them through a window bound with the scarlet cord of our hope in Him. —S. McEachern

When with the ransomed in glory, His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages, to sing of His love for me. —C. Gabriel

Numbers 25:1-26:51; Proverbs 22:17-23:11; Luke 1:26-56

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Eph. 6:10
My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9
When I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

On multiple occasions Moses reminded Joshua to “Be strong and of good courage”. Obviously Joshua had a huge task ahead of him and a remarkable leader to replace. Divine strength and courage would be needed. What task or challenge are you facing? The apostle has the answer for it: His strength for our weakness—the infinite resource of the power of His might. We are not to face life’s challenges on our own. Turn it over to Him. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Be strong and heed the promise!
Fear not, but go forth undismayed;
Be strong, and of good courage;
Have faith! Be not afraid. —Ren Olsen

Numbers 23:27-24:25; Proverbs 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

Whoever drinks of this water…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give… John 4:13-14 NKJV

What a beautiful truth we discover in the two different tenses of the verb Jesus used for “drink” when speaking to the Samaritan woman: “Whoever [continues to drink] of this water will thirst again, but whoever [takes one drink] of the water that I shall give him will never thirst”. The point Jesus was making? At best, physical water—any physical satisfaction provided by this world only quenches our thirst temporarily, requiring a never-ending quest for contentment. But the water Jesus offers, spiritual water, quenches our spiritual longings once and for all! Christian, take this Water to some thirsty soul today. —Brian Cretney

I heard the voice of Jesus say, behold I freely give,
The living water, thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live.  —Horatius Bonar

Numbers 22:39-23:26; Proverbs 20:1-21:11; James 4:13-5:20

I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV

Here we see the wonderful cycle of faith in Timothy’s life. It was the faith which dwelt in his grandmother and mother. The expression, “which dwelt”, is to say they were right at home with their faith. While faith cannot be passed down, it can be passed on. May God inspire us all to follow the good example of these two mothers in the Bible. Timothy did! —Rex Trogdon

O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide;
Where ev’ry child is taught His love and favour,
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified.   —Barbara Hart

Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19:1-29; James 3:1-4:12

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 

God’s ultimate purpose is to populate Heaven with those like His Son. We see this illustrated in what scientists call “metamorphosis”. The process begins with an ugly, earth-bound caterpillar, but soon, it emerges from the chrysalis; now a beautiful butterfly fitted for the skies. So also, when our Lord returns, we will receive bodies “like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21), fitted for Heaven. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”. —Willie H. Burnett

And is it so—I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory (thought beyond all thought!)
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought! —John Nelson Darby

Numbers 21:1-35; Proverbs 18:1-24; James 2:1-26

By faith Abraham, when he was called…obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Hebrews 11:8
Being fully persuaded that, what (God) had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:21

Abraham believed the Word of the unseen God and acted upon it. Leaving the comforts of his home, he walked through the desert to a land he did not know; to dwell among a people whose language he did not speak. Yet he never went back but trusted God in spite of many hardships. He became, not only the “father of faith” but is a challenge to each of us today to be so committed; that we too, never turn back. —David Croudace

I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back; no turning back.
The world behind me; the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.  —Sadhu Sundar Singh

Numbers 20:1-29; Proverbs 17:1-28; James 1:1-27

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee. Genesis 3:18
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head. Matthew 27:29
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree. Isaiah 55:13

One effect of the fall is that thorns have grown on this planet and many of us have inadvertently been pricked by them when out in the countryside. Sadly, wicked men used these tokens of the fall to make a mock crown for our Saviour which was cruelly and painfully beaten into His brow. How wonderful that in the future millennial day the thorn will have disappeared and men will view the King not crowned with thorns but regal majesty! —Philip A. Kaye

The head that once was crowned with thorns,
is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns the mighty victor’s brow. —Thomas Kelly

Numbers 19:1-22; Proverbs 16:1-33; 2 Peter 3:1-18

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

Banish self pity from your life. It has no place in the life of the Christian. Yes, things may be difficult at times, but keep the big picture in focus. Every believer is in possession now of every spiritual blessing. Material blessings come and go. The Lord will see we have what we really need of those. Remember how rich you really are in Christ. —Brian Gunning

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.  —Dallan Foregaill

Numbers 18:1-32; Proverbs 15:1-33; 2 Peter 2:1-22

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. John 11:11

Consider the pronouncement—Lazarus is sleeping. This sleep refers to the body of the deceased saint. Consider the promise: “I go, that I may awake him out of sleep”. This reminds us of the imminent awakening when the Lord “shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16). Consider the power: He who formed Adam out of the dust of the earth, (Gen. 2:7), will again assert His power and raise up everyone that has died in Christ. How we long for that day! —L. Cain

Jesus is coming! The dead shall arise,
Loved ones shall meet in a joyful surprise.
Caught up together to Him in the skies;
Jesus is coming again! —D. W. Whittle

Numbers 16:41-17:13; Proverbs 14:1-35; 2 Peter 1:1-21

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? Malachi 3:14

What’s in it for me? This is the sad state of mind for too many of God’s people in these latter days. The prevailing selfishness of our present day has infiltrated the minds and hearts of many, so that lukewarm indifference has displaced fervency and devotion. Have we become so absorbed with temporal things that eternal things are being ignored? Are mere moments in time worth forfeiting His eternal rewards? Do we think so lightly of Him? —Rick Morse

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.  —J. Edwin Orr