Choice Gleanings: Good News Edition

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

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 2:1-23; Isaiah 42:1-25; 2 Corinthians 2:1-17

Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. Genesis 22:7-8

“Where is the lamb?” is the great Old Testament question. “God will provide for himself the lamb” is the great New Testament answer. The Lamb was identified by John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Christ was the Lamb who was crucified for the sins of the world, your sins and mine, on Calvary. Is He your Saviour? —Milton Haack

Lamb of God, we fall before Thee, humbly trusting in Thy cross. That
alone be all our glory; all things else are only dross. —Joseph Hart

DAILY READINGS: Ruth 1:1-22; Isaiah 41:1-29; 2 Corinthians 1:1-24

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25, NKJV

It is thought that the great pyramid was constructed at the angle of light’s refraction so that the Pharaoh’s soul could rise to heaven on a ray of sunlight. Pharaoh knew he had a soul and believed there was a heaven, but he missed it. Paul had “a desire to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23, NKJV), but his assurance lay in the fact that the Lord Jesus had died for him on the cross, and through Christ’s death his sins had been put away. All who believe this will one day be conveyed by Him to heaven. Will you be there? —R. Surgenor

On Christ salvation rests secure; the Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown, which rests upon the living Stone.
—Samuel Medley

DAILY READINGS: Judges 21:1-25; Isaiah 40:1-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

[He] broke in pieces the bronze serpent…for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it. 2 Kings 18:4

Numbers 21 pictured what God would do for the world through His Son. Israel had sinned, yet God provided a bronze serpent, lifted high on a pole. Whoever looked, lived. But the ensuing generations forgot about the goodness of God, and the statue became the object of their worship. We can do just the same. Romans 1:21 says, “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God…and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Yet God still cares. Believe in Him and you will not perish. Look and live. —Charlie Tempest

Look and live, O sinner live, Look to Jesus now and live.
—William Ogden