Choice Gleanings

Genesis 4:1-5:32; Job 6:1-7:21; Matthew 4:1-25

Is not this Joseph’s son? Luke 4:22
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. 3:17

In our first verse, we see something of man’s estimation of the Lord. He had taught them. All eyes had been upon Him (v 20) and all had wondered at His gracious words (v 22) yet they failed to appreciate who He was. In our second verse we see something of God’s estimation of His Son. Every moment of every day and every footstep along the way He brought delight to the Father. He is the Son of God and He is our Saviour too. —John M. Clegg

O Lord, when we the path retrace
Which Thou on earth hast trod;
To men Thy wondrous love and grace,
Thy faithfulness to God. —James G. Deck

Genesis 3:1-24; Job 4:1-5:27; Matthew 3:1-17

And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10 NKJV

A godly woman once said, “I have learned to say to God, ‘The answer is Yes. Now, what’s the question?’”. This echoes the words of our Lord Jesus who said, “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30). May this be the attitude of my heart today. – Marilyn MacMullen

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word…
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.  —Getty, Townend

Genesis 2:4-25; Job 2:11-3:26; Matthew 2:1-23

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV

Israel saw a giant. David saw a man defying God. What seemed like “wasted years” caring for his father’s few sheep, were now most valuable! The boy, dismissed by his father, was the chosen one of God. During those lonely days and nights with the flock, he learned lessons for life and the nearness of God’s presence. The same is true today. The hours spent with God, and the disciplines of life will prepare us to face life’s giants and shape us into faithful
shepherds (1 Cor. 10:11). —Jim Comte

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me, the quiet waters by. —Scottish Psalter

Genesis 1:1-2:3; Job 1:1-2:10; Matthew 1:1-25

Behold … great darkness fell upon [Abram]. Genesis 15:12

In the climactic scene of this chapter, God, in the images of a smoking furnace and a burning torch, passed through a pathway of divided animal carcasses and affirmed His covenant love-relationship with Abram. But God made His friend wait until darkness to see it. A new year begins today, specifics unknown. But we do know this. At some time we will have to wait on God too. It may not be easy and we may need to wait into deep darkness. But one thing the darkness will do, as with Abram, is make the light of His glorious presence shine ever brighter. May this truth uplift us, wherever our walk with Him takes us in 2026. —S. McEachern

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.  —Attributed to St. Patrick

Esther 9:1-10:3; Malachi 3:7-4:6; Revelation 22:6-21

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:6 NKJV

This is the last verse in the Old Testament and the last line of the verse contains a warning from the Lord—lest He strike the earth with a curse! What a sad way to close, if it were not for the glad way the verse opens. The Lord is faithful, and His message is hopeful to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We are to pass along the good news from one generation to the next. Are we doing our part? —Rex Trogdon

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home! —Isaac Watts

Esther 7:1-8:17; Malachi 2:10-3:6; Revelation 21:9-22:5

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1

What an uplifting psalm! God’s character shines through it all. We find that He is faithful, loving, and kind. His works are great, above all else, and He is high for evermore. But then, coupled with all these attributes, God is holy. He cannot abide sin in any shape or form. There was only one way to pay the penalty for sin, and that was through the death of His Son, the only sinless Man who ever lived. —G. Frear

It’s always good, to thank our God,
To walk in ways, His Son has trod;
To show His kindness and His love,
And faithfulness, from heav’n above. – G. F.

Esther 5:1-6:14; Malachi 1:1-2:9; Revelation 20:7-21:8

My times are in thy hand. Psalm 31:15

Is there any better place to be than in His hands? When we were enemies without hope, the ordinances against us were nailed to the tree with those outstretched hands (Col. 2:14). When feeling forsaken or forgotten, we remain indelibly engraved in His palms (Isa. 49:16). When spoiled in His hands, the potter’s touch will be felt (Jer. 18:2-6).
When fruitfulness is sparse, we sense the beneficial pruning of His discerning hand (John 15:2). When we wander, the Shepherd’s hand gently guides (Isa. 40:11) and the Father’s loving hand reaches out to chasten in times we disappoint (Heb. 12:6). Whatever the time, we abide in the hollow of His hands (John 10:28-29). —David J. Reed

God has not said life’s pattern, is one we’ll understand,
But He’s promised He will keep us, in the hollow of His hand! —J. Gilbert

Esther 3:1-4:17; Zechariah 13:7-14:21; Revelation 19:11-20:6

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Genesis 22:5

Genuine worship comes from the heart, a heart that is completely committed to Christ to do whatever He asks. For Abraham, to sacrifice his son would be an act of true worship. Thankfully at the last moment, Isaac was replaced by a ram. The lamb came later, when God offered His only Son, who gave up His life on the cross of Calvary. There could be no reprieve for Him, for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. —David Croudace

I stand amazed in the presence,
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner condemned, unclean. —Charles H. Gabriel

Esther 2:1-23; Zechariah 12:1-13:6; Revelation 19:1-10

This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.  Deuteronomy 2:18 NKJV

It had taken 38 years to get to this point. All that time the Israelites had pitched their tents, collected their manna, and waited, as a generation died. Perhaps many had resigned themselves to waiting for the rest of their lives, when suddenly God declared “This day.” The wait was over. It was time for next steps. Are you in a period of waiting on God. Do you feel like you’re going in circles or perhaps not even moving at all? Have faith. God has not forgotten you. Your wait may not be over, but one day He will say to your soul, “This day!” —Alyssa Gee

Let me now rest in Thee; make Thy will clear to me,
This is my earnest plea—waiting on Thee, waiting on Thee.  —W. Lee