Choice Gleanings

Exodus 1:1-2:22; Psalm 31:1-24; Matthew 27:45-66

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” John 21:7 NKJV

An unproductive night’s fishing was just another example of the recent difficult downward spiral in Peter’s life. Yet the Saviour was already standing nearby. He spoke but no one recognised His voice. Only when they took a huge catch did John realise the identity of the stranger on the shore. Tellingly, he shared this truth, not with the whole boat, but specifically with his friend Peter. There are many good ways of assisting a downcast friend. However, nothing is better than helping them to see the Lord and to begin a new day basking in the warmth of the Son. —Michael McKillen

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face. —H. Lemmel

Genesis 50:1-26; Psalm 30:1-12; Matthew 27:27-44

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted … Your gold and silver are corroded … You have heaped up treasure … The wages of the laborers … which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries … have reached the ears of the Lord … James 5:1-4 NKJV

God is offended by the unethical rich who selfishly indulge in lavish lifestyles while trampling over the needs of others in pursuit of even more. May God grant us greater sensitivity towards those with less and fill our souls with contentment and gratitude as we store up treasures beyond the reach of robbers and rust (Matt. 6:20). — Peter Ramsay

O to be like Thee! Full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind. —Thomas O. Chisholm

Genesis 49:1-33; Psalms 28:1-29:11; Matthew 27:1-26

And in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:8

The psalmist frequently refers to the nighttime, suggesting that he often had trouble sleeping. I’m sure many of us can relate to this problem. But have you ever experienced God giving you songs in the night, comforting you as you lay awake? Personally, I’ve found that as I repeat the uplifting words of one hymn after another in my head, they act like a lullaby allowing me to fall into sleep. God is so gracious, that even in the night seasons of our lives, He will
surround us with songs of deliverance (Ps. 32:7). —E. V.

And I will sing songs in the night,
Praise in the storm,
You’re God in it all. —Matt Redman

Genesis 47:28-48:22; Psalms 26:1-27:14; Matthew 26:57-75

Above all things have fervent love for one another … Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 1 Pet. 4:8-9 NKJV

We were drawn into a new fellowship of believers by their remarkably warm and generous hospitality. Has hospitality become a lost art? Some doubtless feel they have no entertaining skills, no ability to create gourmet meals, or a home not large enough, or clean enough, or impressive enough. But biblical hospitality enjoins us to open the door to our homes and to our hearts as Christ welcomed us. No matter the state of our dwelling, we can show hospitality by simply taking time to listen to a friend or stranger, which is hospitality of the heart. —Marilyn MacMullen

Yes, others, Lord, yes, others, let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others … that I may live like Thee. —C. D. Meigs

Genesis 46:1-47:27; Psalm 25:1-22; Matthew 26:31-56

Christ died for us … Romans 5:8b

A crescendo is a musical technique that can be used to great effect, as the notes soar through rising levels of intensity to reach a magnificent high point. There is a much different and disheartening crescendo of thought in the passage our verse is from (Rom. 5:6-11). We discover here, that in our fallen state, we were without strength; we were ungodly; we were sinners; we were enemies of God. It is not a crescendo anyone could rejoice in. But through grace, we can lift our hearts and voices in a crescendo of worship and remembrance today, because in spite of all these
marks against us, Christ died for us. —S. McEachern

To Calvary Lord, in Spirit now, our weary souls repair,
To dwell upon Thy dying love, and taste its sweetness there. —E. Denny

Genesis 45:1-28; Psalms 23:1-24:10; Matthew 26:1-30

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, … Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, … “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.” Luke 4:1, 14a, 18a NKJV

We see the fullness of the Spirit through our Lord’s life. The great Three-in-One is a perfect unity. His walk was led by the Spirit; His works were empowered by the Spirit; and His words were given by the Spirit. He was not given the Spirit by measure (John 3:34), but the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him (Col. 2:9). —Rex Trogdon

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name,
in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity! —Reginald Heber

Genesis 44:1-34; Psalm 22:1-31; Matthew 25:31-46

Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 20:21
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness. Isaiah 45:3

At times we experience tragedy in our lives, the loss of a loved one in a car accident; the death of a child. But God says there are treasures in these dark times. More importantly, God’s glorious presence is with us in the thick darkness. Don’t fear the darkness, there is more than one lesson to be learned here — treasures, plural not singular. —K. W.

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wand’ring, praise after tears. —Frances R. Havergal

Genesis 43:1-34; Psalms 20:1-21:13; Matthew 25:1-30

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer (Stone of Help), saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12 NKJV

Samuel established a landmark for Israel to remind them of the great victory the Lord gave in re-capturing the ark of God, the visible representation of His presence with them (1 Sam. 4:1–11). “The Stone of Help” was a continual reminder for present and future generations of God’s goodness. Throughout life we too experience mountain tops and valleys, victories, and defeats, things seen and unseen. As we reflect back, may we raise an “Ebenezer” to the Lord for His faithfulness. —Jim Comte

‘Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. —J. Newton

Genesis 41:50-42:38; Psalm 19:1-14; Matthew 24:29-51

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14 NKJV

Forgiveness comes only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly today, even redeemed believers have begun to depreciate this essential element of our redemption. Some say “It is only important that He died for us”. This is diminishing what He has done for us. Without the shed blood we would still be lost in our sins. —Sam Thorpe

What can wash away my sins,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus…
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. —Robert Lowry

Genesis 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matthew 24:1-28

Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Psalm 77:19

We all want to see God. We all want to have a path laid out before us that we can see and know and trust. But God doesn’t work that way. He wants us to see Him through the eyes of faith. He wants us to know Him through the day-to-day experiences of life. Let Him lead and guide as He sees fit, through the seas and storms and mighty waters of life. We may not see His footprints, but we will experience His mighty hand. —Deborah Manera

Trust were not trust,
If thou couldst see the ending of the way;
Nor could you learn His songs by night,
Were life one radiant day. —Freda Hanbury Allen