Choice Gleanings

Numbers 4:1-49; Proverbs 1:1-33; Mark 14:1-26

The pillar of the cloud departed not from them…to lead them in the way. Nehemiah 9:19
When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10:4

When the pillar moved, the Israelites moved. When the pillar stood still, they remained where they were. They never needed to wonder where God wanted them to be or whether they were on the path God wanted them to follow. They were always confident. If Christ is our Saviour and Shepherd, we shouldn’t be envious of their certainty. To be led by His voice is even better. —Ken Gross

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
What-e’er I do, where-e’er I be,
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me. —J. H. Gilmore

Numbers 3:1-51; Psalms 148:1-150:6; Mark 13:1-37

A…strong wind rent the mountains…but the Lord was not in the wind…and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12

When Elijah was discouraged, God demonstrated His power and might. The wind, earthquake and fire weren’t meant to harm Elijah—they just passed him by. Then came stillness, and the voice of the Lord encouraging him to move forward. When Elijah’s way grew difficult, God drew near, not with thunder, but in quietness and stillness. He will do the same for us. —Deborah Manera

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God, to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.  —Kathrina von Schlegel

Numbers 2:1-34; Psalms 146:1-147:20; Mark 12:18-44

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. Mark 14:10

Many today present themselves as Christians. Judas was one of the group. No one questioned his loyalty. He was the treasurer for the disciples (John 12:6). At the last supper, when the Lord indicated that one at the table would betray Him (Matt. 26:22), there was no suspicion that it was Judas (Matt. 10:4). It may be the same with you. Are you really one of His or are you just one in the crowd? Examine yourself and know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.  —K. J. W.

Through the blood I repent of all my sins,
Precious Lord I now give in;
Fill me Lord Jesus,
Lord, I ask You to come in. —D. E.

Numbers 1:1-54; Psalms 144:1-145:21; Mark 11:27-12:17

Lo, I come… Exodus 19:9

God came down, “Lo, I come”, to meet Moses on Mt. Sinai. He came to authenticate him as His representative and to prepare the people to receive and obey His law. (Ex. 19:9-10). But they (including Moses) could not keep it! Thankfully the Psalmist prophesied of another, God’s Son, who would come to offer Himself to pay for all of us and our failure to keep God’s Law (Ps. 40:6-8). The Lord Jesus said, “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:7). Jesus was that perfect sacrifice who came to fulfil God’s Law in every way, and to shed His blood to bear away all our sin—yours and mine! —K. C. Ung

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  —Robert Lowry

Leviticus 27:1-34; Psalms 142:1-143:12; Mark 11:1-26

The hand of the Lord…set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones…and they were very dry. Ezekiel 37:1-2
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Hard stones and dry bones! These aptly describe the condition of our hearts while we were still “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). But our God, with whom “there is nothing too hard” (Jer. 32:17) is able to give spiritual life to those who are hardhearted and dead in their trespasses and sins, just as He can raise up stones and dry bones if He wills. If you haven’t yet come to Him for salvation, trust Him today for His saving grace. —Elizabeth C. Bishop

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. —James Rowe

Leviticus 26:1-46; Psalm 140:1-141:10; Mark 10:32-52

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:17
Many glory [in] the flesh. 2 Corinthians 11:18

The Apostle Paul had greater human credentials, qualifications and attainment than most of his peers. Yet he reminded the Philippian believers that all those things, previously counted as gain, were now viewed as waste or rubbish for the excellency of knowing Christ Jesus. In an age when men’s accomplishments are paramount, it’s good for the believer to remember what he is and has in Christ. —Wm. H. Gustafson

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever,
Thru’ eternal years the same.  —Fanny Crosby

Leviticus 25:1-55; Psalm 139:1-24; Mark 10:1-31

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Jesus taught His disciples that they could be a light for Him in this dark world, by their good works. Notice too what the purpose for these good works was to be. Not for self promotion, but to glorify their Father in heaven. So today, may we remove anything that may be obscuring our light, and ask ourselves, “How can I shine for Jesus today”? —E. V.

Jesus bids us shine, with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.  —Susan Warner

Leviticus 24:1-23; Psalms 137:1-138:8; Mark 9:33-50

There they made him a supper; and Martha served… John 12:2

And Martha served! It is easy to be critical of Martha. However, let’s commend her for what she did rather then merely criticize her for what she failed to do. Consider her dedication. Consider her devotion. She was a lover of the Lord Jesus and delighted in serving Him and others. Of course the greatest example of service is seen in the Lord Jesus, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NKJV). May our lives be balanced with devotion at His feet but also full of loving service to Him. —L. Cain

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. —F. Crosby

Leviticus 23:23-44; Psalms 135:1-136:26; Mark 9:14-32

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah. Psalm 68:19 NKJV

If our hands and hearts are too full of our cares of this world, we don’t have room to receive His daily load of benefits. Think of the exchanges we have in God’s standing offer: our sins for His righteousness; our sorrows for His joy; our weakness for His strength; our pain for His peace. Isn’t it time we trade our cares for His compassion? Selah—pause and ponder! —Rex Trogdon

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me. —Charles Weigle

Leviticus 23:1-22; Psalms 132:1-134:3; Mark 8:27-9:13

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.  Psalm 66:18
We know that God heareth not sinners. John 9:31
But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord. Psalm 141:8

If I look on iniquity with pleasure, God will not hear me. One writer has said, “Sin regarded in the heart will spoil the comfort and success of prayer”. But, Matthew Henry makes this observation, “If the feeling of sin in the heart causes a desire to be rid of it, and we pray in simplistic and godly sincerity, our prayers will be answered”. The challenge is—to keep our eyes on the Lord. —Bob Cretney

Saviour, lead me lest I stray, gently lead me all the way.
I am safe when by Thy side, I would in Thy love abide.  —Frank M. Davis