Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

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

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 2:1-36; Isa. 44:24-45:25; 2 Cor. 5:11-6:10

For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it. Isaiah 45:18 , NKJV

Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22, NKJV

In verse 18, the Lord is described as the Creator of heaven and earth, evidencing His majesty, power and wisdom. In verse 22, He is shown as the Saviour, “Look to Me, and be saved,” evidencing His grace, love and compassion. He alone is both all-powerful and all-loving. He gives an invitation that carries a promise, but is there not a warning, too? “There is no other.” There is no other way, there is no other Saviour. —Reg. L. Jordan

No other song have I to sing but Jesus;
No other theme but Christ and Calvary. —John W. Peterson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 1:1-28; Isaiah 44:6-23; 2 Cor. 4:7-5:10

Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:21

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and preached the gospel, and how true was his statement recorded in Acts 2:21. Peter had proved it in his own experience. He could look back to that occasion when, drowning in the sea, he cried to the Lord, “Lord, save me.” His cry was heard and his cry was answered. Can you look back to an experience in your life when you called on the Lord for forgiveness? If you can’t, may you do so today. Your prayer will be heard and answered. —John M. Clegg

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Tell the
message all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! —Priscilla J. Owens

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 3:1-4:22; Isaiah 43:1-44:5; 2 Cor. 3:1-4:6

For so is the will of God…well doing. 1 Peter 2:15 , KJV 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Ephesians 2:10, KJV

The deception regarding the value of good works in the eyes of God has spread to such an extent that many believe that their good works will be the means to their acceptance with God. The Bible teaches that all works will be judged, but salvation is based on the finished work of Christ who died in our place for our sins. My “part” is either to trust in that sacrifice as being for me, or to reject it. Have you accepted, or are you still trying to work your way into God’s favour? —Rick Morse

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and
righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly
lean on Jesus’ name. —Edward Mote