Choice Gleanings

1 Samuel 26:1-27:12; Isaiah 65:1-25; Romans 8:1-17

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. Colossians 1:22

The stark contrast between what we are now and what we shall be is painful, yet only when we see ourselves through our own eyes. In His sight we are now holy as to our character, unblameable as to our standing, and unreproveable as to our guilt. Our experience is that our state does not always align with our standing, yet He has provided His blood and His advocacy for our daily spiritual maintenance. We need not wallow in despair; we are in Christ. —Rick Morse

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase. —Frances R. Havergal

1 Samuel 25:1-44; Isaiah 63:15-64:12; Romans 7:7-25

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Luke 6:27-29 NKJV

He loved us even when we were enemies. He went about doing good, yet He suffered hatred. He blessed many who would ultimately reject Him. For those who spitefully used Him, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” They stripped Him. They scourged Him. All of this without resistance, only love. —Peter Ramsay

No love like His! God is its blessed source,
Death ne’er can stop its course,
Nothing can stay its force; matchless it is! —Thomas Kelly

1 Samuel 23:1-24:22; Isaiah 62:1-63:14; Romans 6:15-7:6

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Every morning when we wake up, new mercies are waiting for us. What is your first instinct when you open your eyes? Do you reach for your phone, scroll through news or social media, or catch up on last night’s highlights? Instead, let your first moments be centred on the Lord. Cultivate a habit of turning your thoughts to Him before anything else. Thank Him for His unfailing mercies and His great faithfulness that renews each day. —Alyssa Gee

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus;
When I am alone, give me Jesus;
You can have all this world, but give me Jesus. —Fernando Ortega

1 Samuel 21:1-22:23; Isaiah 61:1-11; Romans 6:1-14

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

The new birth and sanctification are indissoluble. God saves us to be His personal property (Titus 2:14). Our separated status means we are different from the world by nature. Accordingly, believers should love what the Lord loves and hate what He hates. We grow in our holy lifestyle as we are immersed in His Word. He writes it on our hearts and minds and thus makes us like His Son in our thinking, speech, and behaviour. On God’s side, He is
committed to using His Word to change us for our eternal good. For our part, we must read, memorize, meditate on, and obey the Bible. —Keith R. Keyser

Thy Word, Thyself reflecting, doth sanctify by truth,
Still leading on Thy children, with gentle heavenly growth. —G. Gilpin

1 Samuel 19:8-20:42; Isaiah 60:1-22; Romans 5:12-21

You are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13 NKJV

Like salt, we are to have a preserving influence. As our culture continues to decline morally, is it partly due to our failure to recognize that we are the salt of the earth? Salt has to be on things and in things to make an impact. Are we detached from society, safe in our local church bubbles? We must be involved in people’s lives. We must have meaningful engagement with lost people around us. This means spilling out of the saltshaker of our comfort zones to reach others with the Gospel. Tell someone today about the Lord Jesus. —David Petterson

Tell them of the joys of heaven, purchased by the Saviour’s blood,
How, that they might be forgiven, Jesus left His home above. —Edward Payson Hammond

1 Samuel 18:6-19:7; Isaiah 59:1-21; Romans 4:23-5:11

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things. Psalm 119:37 NKJV
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18 NKJV

Here are two requests we would do well to emulate. First, that our eyes would be turned away from worthless things. Second, that our eyes would be opened to wondrous things found in God’s Word. Worthless things are on every hand, but as we search the Scriptures, may our eyes be opened to the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Phil. 4:8). Then our eyes will be turned from the worthless to the worthwhile. —E. V.

Open the eyes of my heart Lord;
I want to see You. —Paul Baloche

1 Samuel 17:32-18:5; Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 4:1-22

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

The Creation account presents God as all-powerful, all-wise, and abounding in goodness. But Satan raises two questions in Genesis 3. Is God really good? And can God’s Word really be trusted? The evil one was successful with this line of attack then and still today he deceives and distorts with these same insinuations. And many are happy to suppress the evidence that God has plainly given to the contrary (Rom. 1:18-20). But to those who seek Him diligently, He still demonstrates His grace and goodness. —David Wilson

Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee. —Joachim Neander

1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9-57:21; Romans 3:1-31

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. Jeremiah 9:23

‘Tis far better to glory in the One through whom the Father gives us the Spirit of wisdom (Eph. 1:17); the One who strengthens us with might by His Spirit according to the riches of His glory (Eph. 3:16); and supplies all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). May those who dwell among us see the glorious Saviour who dwells within us. —David J. Reed

When I look into the face of Jesus,
And behold the beauty of my King,
Then, transformed, into His blessed likeness,
To His glory, I will ever sing. —Eliza Hewitt

1 Samuel 16:1-23; Isaiah 55:1-56:8; Romans 2:1-29

I have waited for your salvation, O Lord! Genesis 49:18 NKJV
And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 NKJV
For my eyes have seen Your salvation. Luke 2:30 NKJV

The first Biblical mention of “salvation” is used here in Jacob’s prophecy. Literally, he says, “I have waited for your Yeshua, (your Jesus).” Many centuries passed until the angel announced to Joseph “And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Salvation had arrived and Simeon, from the OT era, held the
Lord Jesus and said, “My eyes have seen Your salvation, (Your Yeshua; Your Jesus).” Make Him your salvation today! —Jim Comte

Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Saviour, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God with us, blessed Redeemer, living Word. —N. Hearn

1 Samuel 15:1-35; Isaiah 54:1-17; Romans 1:18-32

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

The young man sat dejectedly. He had come to an auction to bid on the police car that his late father had used while on the force. Despite his best attempts, the car eventually sold for much more than he could pay. What he so desired was unobtainable on his own. Imagine his joy when the purchaser offered him the keys and said: “Take it. It’s yours!” Do you long to know that your sins are forgiven? You will never be able to work hard enough to make that happen. The Lord Jesus has already paid the price and offers salvation as a gift. Do not turn it down! —Lynn Shatford

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. —E. Hall