Choice Gleanings

Numbers 33:1-56; Proverbs 29:1-27; Luke 4:16-44

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee … But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. Mark 2:5, 10-12

This story reveals God’s prerogatives. He alone has jurisdiction over the forgiveness of sins. It also reminds us of the power of God to heal disease. We see also the priorities of God. The spiritual need of forgiveness took precedence over the physical issue. Does this test us as to the priorities in our prayer lives? —Lloyd Cain

O to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.  —Robert Robin

Numbers 32:1-42; Proverbs 28:1-28; Luke 4:1-15

All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother … With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother … Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus. Colossians 4:7, 9-10

Do you like getting letters and cards in the mail? Imagine getting an encouraging note from a brother in Christ like Paul, who was currently in prison for his faith in God! We should follow his example and send notes to encourage others in their faith. It is good to let others know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. —Pam Hagey

O happy day! When we shall see, and fix our longing eyes on Thee.
On Thee, our Light, our Life, our Love, our all below, our Heaven above. —James G. Deck

Numbers 30:1-31:54; Proverbs 26:13-27:27; Luke 3:1-38

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

Joni Eareckson Tada wrote, “Our God is an intentional God brimming over with motive and mission. He never does things capriciously or decides with the flip of a coin”. When my wife’s father was in severe pain, his wife said, “I don’t know why the Lord is allowing you to suffer like this”. He quietly responded, “He’s not finished with me yet. He’s still removing a few rough edges and preparing me for glory.” It was only a few minutes later and his “light affliction” (v 17) was over. —Jim Comte

When by His grace, I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me. —Charles H. Gabriel

Numbers 29L1-40; Proverbs 25:1-26:12; Luke 2:22-52

He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “…do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19 NKJV
I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:23 NKJV

The Lord, on the night He was betrayed, asked His disciples to remember Him. Later He made the same simple request to the church. Still today, we have the privilege to take bread and wine and remember Him. How can we forget His great love, His intense suffering, His crown of thorns, His body bruised and put to shame, His pierced hands and feet and wounded side. Will you remember Him today? Thank Him for His great salvation! —Jim Paul

He no sound while bearing my sin, cries not to be free,
With thankful heart I’d remember Thee. —Margaret L. MacDonald

Numbers 28:1-31; Proverbs 24:1-34; Luke 2:1-21

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope … Romans 15:13

Our hope is a sure and certain future. It fills us to overflowing with joy as we think about it. Hope is not connected with doubt. It is known as hope, because it has yet to be realized and we do not know the timing of that fulfilment. The God of hope is the basis of the glory to come and that gives us joy and delight as well as peace and contentment. We rest on the Lord’s promises, His character and what He achieved for us on Calvary. —Paul Young

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. —Jan Struther

Numbers 26:52-27:23; Proverbs 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me … for we are brethren.” Genesis 13:8 NKJV

In relation to the impending land division, Abram could have correctly said, “I’m entitled to be first; it’s my right”. We are all quite good at that aren’t we? But Abram didn’t. Instead, he took second place. He exemplified a fundamental principle of maintaining relationships: people are more important than things. We are brothers, he said. Is this our attitude towards God’s family or is it our rights that come to the fore? Just as Abram was blessed, if
we give first place to maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, God will see that we are blessed as well. —S. M.

Lord, let me live from day to day, in such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray, my pray’r shall be for others. —C. Meigs

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