Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 26:1-30; Psalms 70:1-71:24; Acts 15:1-21

Tell those who are invited…everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast. Matthew 22:4

This parable illustrates God’s invitation to anyone who hears— Come. To those who are still in their sins, He says come to me for salvation. His purposes for the day of grace will soon be accomplished and we will be called home to the marriage supper of the Lamb to meet our Bridegroom in person. Have you responded to His invitation to come for salvation? Come today. —Jim Pizzulli

While Jesus whispers to you, come, sinner, come!
While we are praying for you, come, sinner, come!
Now is the time to own Him: come, sinner, come!
Now is the time to know Him: come, sinner, come! —W. E. Witter

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 25:1-40; Psalm 69:1-36; Acts 14:1-28

“Go your way, sell whatever you have…follow Me.” But he… went away sorrowful. Mark 10:21-22, NKJV

People today clamor for money. They think that wealth will satisfy. But there is something far more important than money, and the Saviour told this rich man that he lacked it. The most important thing in your life is not wealth but your soul’s salvation. To trust Christ as your Saviour is the only thing that will satisfy. Sadly, this man wasn’t prepared to do that. He literally turned his back on the best Friend he could ever have. The Lord Jesus loves us and died on a cross to save us. Don’t reject Him; trust Him today. —John M. Clegg

Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save
you, He will save you, He will save you now. —John H. Stockton

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 24:1-18; Psalm 68:1-35; Acts 13:26-52

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 

To come to God requires two things. First, we must believe that He is, that He exists. Nearly everyone believes this. But, that’s not enough. We must also believe that He will reward those who seek Him out. Call upon Him in faith for salvation, knowing that He will respond. Then, for spiritual growth, don’t grow weary in your prayers, nor in your passion for living for Him. Seek Him in every situation. He is there. He will reward. —Rex Trogdon

Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.
—John Newton

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 23:10-33; Psalms 66:1-67:7; Acts 13:1-25

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Of Matthew 11:28, St. Augustine wrote in the fifth century A. D.: “I have read in Plato and in Cicero many sayings that are very wise and very beautiful, but I never read in either of them such words as these: ‘Come to me.'” Have you responded to this glorious invitation to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour? His invitation is still open to you today. Tomorrow may be too late. —W. Ross Rainey

Come to the Saviour, make no delay;
Here in His Word He’s shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, “Come!”—George F. Root

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 22:1-23:9; Psalms 64:1-65:13; Acts 12:1-25

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13, NKJV 

What good news this is! As sinners, we are guilty before God, and under His condemnation. Yet, His grace is reaching out to us, offering us a complete pardon. We must not think that this offer indicates that God has lowered His standards regarding our guiltiness. The gospel proclaims that the bestowing of mercy on the guilty is entirely consistent with God’s righteous character. The out-flow of mercy to us is the result of the perfect work of Christ who “died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3, KJV). Today, turn from sin, and trust the Saviour. —George Hall

Mercy there was great and grace was free, Pardon there was
multiplied to me, There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.
—W. R. Newell

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 21:1-36; Psalms 62:1-63:11; Acts 11:19-30

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 

Can you look back to a time when you passed from death into life? March 2, 1938 was when I first heard and understood the gospel. I was a rebellious young man and refused to obey my parents, but I knew I was a sinner. That afternoon a man of God explained the gospel to me. With tears I opened my heart and received Christ as my Lord and Saviour. It was the beginning of a new life. Have you as a broken sinner, repentant and believing, received the Lord Jesus? —Donald L. Norbie

Will you take Jesus to be your guide? His love will brighten the way;
Safe in His keeping you may abide; will you take Jesus today? —W. R.

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 20:1-26; Psalms 60:1-61:8; Acts 11:1-18

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. Matthew 18:11, NKJV

After thousands of years of prophecy, He who is the Son of God became the Son of man, born of a virgin in Judah. What kindness is this! Man lost everything in Adam, the first man, so God’s salvation could only become a reality through the Second Man, the last Adam. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is,  the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15, NKJV). —Neil Dougal

Jesus, my Saviour, to Bethlehem came, Born in a manger to sorrow and
shame; O it is wonderful blest be His Name, seeking for me, for me.
—Anonymous

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 19:14-25; Psalm 59:1-17; Acts 10:34-48

There came a man full of leprosy…he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. Luke 5:12-13

A surgeon was asked, “Do you ever fear losing feeling in your fingers so you would be unable to perform surgeries?” “No”, he replied, “but I do fear the day when I lose feeling for my patients.” An outcast of society begged Jesus to touch him. Dr. Luke, in using the term, “full of leprosy” indicates he was beyond human help. But he was never beyond the Saviour’s healing touch. Leprosy is a picture of sin and in that matter we are beyond help. We need the forgiving touch of the Saviour. Trust Him and He will cleanse you today. —Jim Comte

Just one touch! And He makes me whole,
Speaks sweet peace to my sin-sick soul. —B. Bell

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 19:1-13; Psalm 58:1-11; Acts 10:24-33

The sting of death is sin. 1 Corinthians 15:56, KJV

God first created man to enjoy the fullness of His creation and to commune with Him. As a test of his obedience (a necessary condition of faith and love), God said he could eat of the fruit of every tree in the garden where God had placed him except one. To disobey would bring certain death (Genesis 2:16-17). Yet man chose to disobey and sin against God. Consequently death came. The Lord Jesus lived a life of obedience to God and gave His life to take away this sting of death. Now He offers life back to us and a restoration of our relationship with Him. Will you obey and take it? —K. C. Ung

Jesus for sinners undertakes, and died that we may live;
His blood a full atonement makes, and cries aloud, “Forgive.”
—J. Newton

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 18:1-27; Psalms 56:1-57:11; Acts 10:1-23

Owe no one anything… Romans 13:8

When we purchase things on credit, we owe money. When the total amount is paid, our debt is settled. But, the debt of sin, we owe to God! And no matter how hard and how many times we try; we can never settle our debt in full. It is only by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood, that our debt can be settled. He alone has the power to wipe our slates clean if we will confess our sins to Him. Have you had your debt paid? —Ken Gunnell

To Him I owe my life and breath, And all the joys I have;
He takes away the sting of death, Gives victory o’er the grave!
—S. Stennett