Choice Gleanings

Numbers 25:1-26:51; Proverbs 22:17-23:11; Luke 1:26-56

Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. James 2:1 NKJV

Favouring some means discriminating against others, which contradicts what our glorious Lord taught and practised. A Christian discredits their faith if they discriminate based on colour, culture, country, cuisine, career, clothes, or capabilities. Discrimination that occurs subtly with soft gloves doesn’t make it less offensive to the heart of our glorious Lord. It only more clearly reveals the treachery of our own heart. I am to judge the sin as soon as it rises in my heart. —Peter Ramsay

Give me a love that knows no ill, give me the grace to do Thy will;
Pardon and cleanse this soul of mine, give me a heart like Thine. —J. W. Van De Venter

Numbers 23:27-24:25; Proverbs 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Joshua 10:13 NKJV

What an amazing answer to a prayer that pleased God with its daring and courage! Joshua did not request that God intervene as quickly as possible to finish the battle, nor to “please get them out of this mess”, a consequence of their own earlier prayerlessness. Instead, he prayed that they be allowed daylight till they finished the battle and eradicated the enemy army, as God had commanded. In this example I see a challenge to my own soul: embrace the
challenges, don’t seek escape or relief until the Lord has completed the work He needs to do in me. —Marilyn MacMullen

Fight the good fight with all thy might,
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right. —J. Monsell

Numbers 22:39-23:26; Proverbs 20:1-21:11; James 4:13-5:20

Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19 NKJV

For believers, life is a stewardship. We must use our time, talents, and treasure for the Lord’s purposes. Paul calls on affluent saints to amass the true wealth of “good works”. Saints employ their material resources to help others, thereby establishing a foundation for their future life in glory. By using physical things in this way, they will receive reward and store up a good foundation for “eternal life” in its future consummation. – Keith R. Keyser

All that we are, and all we have, shall be forever Thine;
And all a cheerful heart could give, our willing hands resign. —I. Watts

Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19:1-29; James 3:1-4:12

My feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. Ps. 73:2

It is easy to slip or even fall when conditions underfoot are icy or muddy. This world is a cold and treacherous place for the believer who can be affected by what he or she sees around them. The psalmist realised how close he was to backsliding when he focused on the seeming prosperity of the wicked. However, in the nick of time, his vision was restored when he went “into the sanctuary” (73:17) and saw things as God sees them, in the light of eternity. Thus strengthened, his feet were steadied. —Clark Logan

Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see. —Fanny J. Crosby

Numbers 21:1-35; Proverbs 18:1-24; James 2:1-26

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverbs 31:28

Mothers provide structure and vitality to their family. Cooking. Cleaning. Laundry. Bedtime. A listening ear. A cheering word. Fervent prayer. She fears the Lord. Many mothers devote themselves to raising spiritually stable men and women and they must never be taken for granted. Every day is a great day to rise up and call her blessed! For those of us in a different role or season of life, let us seek ways to encourage and support those around us who are in the middle of the crucial ministry of motherhood! —Caroline Webb

Bless the one who gave me life, bless the one who held me in her arms;
Bless the one who told me that Jesus loves me so. We rise and call her blessed.  —Stacey Noll 

Numbers 20:1-29; Proverbs 17:1-28; James 1:1-27

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

One day a believer visited a prisoner on death row. As he approached, the prisoner shouted, “Get out of here. I’ve had
enough religion”. “Wait a minute, I have good news for you, let me tell you about it”, replied the visitor. But the inmate refused. After the man left, the warden said, “Well, young man, I see the governor visited you today with a pardon”. To his dismay, the condemned man realized it was now too late. Accept Christ’s pardon for your sins while there is time. —George T. Ferrier

In wonder lost, with trembling joy, we take the pardon of our God,
Pardon for sins of deepest dye, a pardon sealed with Jesus’ blood.  —Samuel Davies

Numbers 19:1-22; Proverbs 16:1-33; 2 Peter 3:1-18

Zacchaeus … said to the Lord, … if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. Luke 19:8 NKJV

The law stated a fourfold restoration of what one had stolen (Ex. 22:1). Although Zacchaeus knew the text, he had never felt any compulsion to obey it. But Christ had effected a change that inspired him to obey God’s Word. Salvation came first; transformation second. We are not saved by what we do, but what we do will be different after God saves us. Are you saved? Genuine salvation is always followed by genuine transformation. —David Petterson

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! —R. H. McDaniel

Numbers 18:1-32; Proverbs 15:1-33; 2 Peter 2:1-22

And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go … thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Ruth 1:16
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse. Matthew 1:5 NKJV

It never ceases to amaze me how our Lord can turn adverse circumstances into glorious ones for His purposes. The Moabites were a cursed people (Deut. 23:3-4), yet Ruth married into Naomi’s grandfather, in the genealogy of Christ. No matter your circumstances, look to Him and wait patiently. —Rosemary J. Richardson

Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all. —E. P. Stites

Numbers 16:41-17:13; Proverbs 14:1-35; 2 Peter 1:1-21

I lay me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. Ps. 3:5
O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:3

Whether waking or sleeping, David depended on his God to sustain, protect, and guide him. Upon waking, he immediately looked up and communed with God, knowing that only He could help him navigate the day. Then, when the day was done, he could say with confidence, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (Ps. 4:8). We too can trust our heavenly Father for whatever lies ahead, day or night. —E. V.

Waking or sleeping I’ve nothing to fear,
knowing my Father is always near.
Daily seeking in Him to abide,
my every need He will provide. —E. V

Numbers 16:1-40; Proverbs 13:1-25; 1 Peter 5:1-14

She bound the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:21 NKJV

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word “cord” is translated twenty-three times as “hope” and seven as “expectation”. This gives deep significance to the scarlet cord Rahab tied to her window. She did not know when the city would be taken or how the conquest would take place, but she knew she would be spared and had the promise of the spies and the cord as a visible expression of her hope. We are in the same position today in that we live in the expectation of the return of the Lord Jesus. We have a sure hope based on the grounds of the shed blood of Christ and the assurance of God’s promise. —Gary McBride

My hope is in the Lord who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary. —N. Clayton