Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 21-22; Isaiah 61; Romans 6:1-14

“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7, NKJV

Did the Lord Jesus Christ break His own command? The word “let” often means allow. But this is an imperative, and could be translated, “He shall throw the first stone.” Of course Jesus Himself was the only one in the world, in all time, without sin. The marvel is that the Son of God knew this sinful woman, and did not condemn her. He came to make it possible, lawful and righteous, to transform sinners into saints. Are you saved? —R. E. Harlow

Free from the law, oh, happy condition! Jesus has died,
and there is remission; Cursed by the law and bruised
by the fall, Christ has redeemed us-once for all. —Philip P. Bliss

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Rom. 5:12-21

The life I now live…I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

A young man was brought to the Emergency Department with a severe gunshot wound to the chest. Doctors and nurses worked valiantly in an unsuccessful effort to save his life. From another room the anguished cry of his mother rang out repeatedly, “Let me take his body and give him mine.” It was an impossible request. But Christ bore “our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). He suffered “the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). —David Logan

Matchless love! How vast! How free!
Jesus gave Himself for me. —J. J. Hopkins

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Rom. 4:23-5:11

He died for all… 2 Corinthians 5:15, KJV

The town of Chepstow in South Wales is one of the gateway towns from the country’s border with England. A stroll through it while on holiday caught my imagination when I saw a hotel called “The Five Alls.” The facade of the building was bedecked  with five life-size figures with inscriptions as follows: A soldier with the inscription “I fight all;” a bishop with “I pray for all;” a king, “I rule all;” a lawyer, “I plead for all;” and a banker, “I pay all.” What an opportunity to preach a message concerning Christ in that town by adding two other themes represented in His blessed person: “I love all” and “I died for all.” —B. Powlesland

God loved the world of sinners lost and ruined by the fall,
Salvation full, at highest cost, He offers free to all. —Stockton

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 17:32-18:5; Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 4:1-22

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [down] the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18, KJV

All men everywhere and in every age have had truth from God in some form: in creation (Psalm 19:3); in the law (Romans 10:5); through their conscience (1 Timothy 4:2); or by the gospel (Romans 1:16). Having truth is a great blessing, but acting contrary to it brings down the wrath of God. All humankind will be judged according to their response to the light they had. Have you heard the gospel message? Then fearfully accept it, and God will count it for righteousness. Otherwise there is no escaping the wrath of God. —Tom Steere

Let the song go round the earth, Jesus Christ is Lord! Sound His
praises, tell His worth, be His name adored. —S. G. Stock

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9-57:21; Romans 3:1-31

Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:6, KJV

Many years ago in a humble Irish cottage, John Darby sat at the bedside of a dying shepherd boy. With a prayer to God for guidance, he asked the lad how he had acquired the cough. “Aye, sir,” he said, “it was about a year ago. I went out into a cold stormy night to search for my father’s lost sheep and didn’t stop till I found it. The poor creature was tired and helpless so I just carried it home on my shoulders.” Mr. Darby then had the perfect message, the gospel story of the lost sheep in Luke 15. The boy drank it in and found safe passage Home in the arms of the Good Shepherd. —E. MacLelland

Jesus my Shepherd is; ’twas He that loved my soul, ‘Twas He that
cleansed me with His blood, ‘Twas He that made me whole. —H. Bonar

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

In the salvation experience of Paul, God has given us a pattern of how He works. Some teach that a person must be regenerated before he can believe. But this is not God’s pattern. His mercy and longsuffering are to those who believe on Him to life everlasting. That is, regeneration, life, comes after belief. Those who believe are born again. Friend, don’t wait on God. He’s waiting on you. It’s your move. Believe! —Carl Knott

There’s a story ever new, it is wonderful and true,
And the best thing you can do is believe it.—John Ferguson

DAILY READINGS: 1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16, KJV

The sign in the bank stated, “Ask us how we can secure your future for only $50 per month.” Many undoubtedly took up the offer to have their financial future secured here on earth. But what of eternity? In light of its vast dimensions, security for this life pales in comparison. Thank God there is good news regarding our eternal future. At no cost to us, but at great cost to Him, He has offered eternal life to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour from sin. Are you eternally secure? —Wade LeBlanc

All my iniquities on Him were laid, all my indebtedness
by Him was paid; All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said,
“Hath everlasting life.” —J. M.

DAILY READINGS: 1 Sam. 14:1-52; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Rom. 1:1-17

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:19-20

What a contrast between God and idols. People speak to their idols and get only silence. When God speaks, all are to be silent. Yet even when He is silent, God speaks. As a sheep, silent before its shearers (Isaiah 53:7), the Lord Jesus spoke volumes about His hatred of sin and love for sinners. Friend, listen to God’s message and trust Christ today. —George Ferrier

Jesus bruised and put to shame, tells me all Jehovah’s name;
God is love, I surely know by the Saviour’s depths of woe.
—R. C. Chapman

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