Choice Gleanings

Leviticus 4:1-26; Psalm 103:1-22; Acts 26:19-32

How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? Job 25:4 NKJV

Job was a wealthy, godly man. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was the greatest of all the people of the East. But in one day he lost everything — all his livestock, all his servants, all his children. Afterwards Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Perhaps someone reading this today has suffered a severe loss. Remember God is always on the throne and He makes no mistakes. “Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him” (Ps. 42:11). —Sid Halsband

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing. —Martin Luther

Leviticus 3:1-17; Psalm 102:1-28; Acts 26:1-18

Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Nahum 1:15

This passage is quoted in Romans 10:14 with reference to our Gospel witness, but we can also see our Saviour here as the One who brought good tidings and published peace with God through Himself. Who ever brought good news to this sin-sick world like He did? At His birth, the angels proclaimed peace on earth and good will to men from heaven. Until He returns, we plead with people in Christ’s stead for them to be reconciled to God. —Rick Morse

Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell,
Of the crimson banner, now the story tell. —Daniel Whittle

Leviticus 2:1-16; Psalms 99:1-101:8; Acts 25:13-27

And beginning to sink, [Peter] cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matthew 14:30

Only two men ever walked on the surface of the sea, the Lord Jesus and Peter. The Lord could do so because He is the Creator, but Peter did so only by divine enablement and through faith. Whilst the divine power never failed, his faith did, and that heroic man began to sink. The immediate conditions so overwhelmed his natural senses that he took his eyes off the One who had called him. Do present burdens give you that “sinking feeling” today, dear saint? Don’t be ashamed: call upon the Lord. Remember, Peter wrote from experience, “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3:12). —Phil Coulson

Kept by His power, whatever dangers lower. —William Blane

Leviticus 1:1-17; Psalms 96:1-98:9; Acts 24:24-25:12

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:15

The Gadarene maniac had just had an encounter with the Christ of God! He who was uncontrollable and a danger to himself and others had been dramatically changed by the Lord Jesus. His activities are different; he is “sitting”. His attire is changed; he is now “clothed”. His attitude is changed; he is sound-minded. What an amazing conversion that only the Saviour brings! —Lloyd Cain

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 have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! —Rufus H. McDaniel

Exodus 40:1-38; Psalms 94:1-95:11; Acts 24:1-23

Stay with me; do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe. 1 Samuel 22:23 NKJV

Abiathar’s family was slaughtered in a massacre ordered by cruel King Saul. Afterward, he sought security with David, who assured him of his unwavering protection. His safety was contingent on the survival and eventual victory of the Bethlehemite warriorturned-shepherd. Similarly, believers’ eternal well-being depends on the Lord’s conquest of every enemy. His triumphant death, resurrection, and ascension ensures our glorious destiny. We are united with Him by faith, as Col. 3:3 says: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” —Keith R. Keyser

No voice but Thine can give me rest, and bid my fears depart;
No love but Thine can make me bless’d, and satisfy my heart. —J. Newton

Exodus 39:1-43; Psalms 92:1-93:5; Acts 23:12-35

Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Luke 10:39
[Mary] fell down at his feet, saying … Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. John 11:32
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus. John 12:3

A humble seeker savours a moment at the feet of omniscience. A heartbroken servant finds solace at the feet of omnipotence. A hushed sinner bows at the feet of the omnipresent One. We contemplate, cultivate and culminate our worship at His nail pierced feet. Whether for a moment or hours, such visits are a must. —David J. Reed

’Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story! ’Tis the Lord, the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall, crown Him, crown Him, Lord of all! —B. Hanby

Exodus 38:1-31; Psalms 90:1-91:16; Acts 22:22-23:11

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:3 NKJV

One way the New Testament attests to the deity of the Lord Jesus is by attributing to Him deeds that are uniquely God’s. Today’s verse is a simple, but full claim, that the Lord Jesus is the Creator of all things. In the Old Testament, Yahweh insists that He makes all things and stretches out the heavens “all alone” and spreads abroad the earth “by Myself” (Isa. 44:24). Job agrees that “He alone spreads out the heavens” (Job 9:8). If God does these things all by
Himself, the Lord Jesus is God. —David Wilson

Thou Son of God, eternal Word, who heav’n and earth’s foundations laid,
Upholding by Thy word and power, the universe Thy hands have made.  —Inglis Fleming

Exodus 37:1-29; Psalm 89:19-52; Acts 22:1-21

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. Matthew 17:5

After Christ’s baptism, the Father testified to His Son’s moral glory after thirty quiet years in Nazareth. Then at His transfiguration, the Father attested to His Son’s three years of righteous, obedient service in public ministry. May we also please the Lord in both our private lives and public ministry for Him. Moreover, as we meditate upon Christ, may we tell the Father how much we appreciate His Son, as well as praise Him before others. —George T. Ferrier

Exalted on His throne, in loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days, make all His glories known. —S. Medley

Exodus 36:1-38; Psalm 89:1-18; Acts 21:17-40

Purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 NKJV

To be double-minded is to be vacillating, indecisive, wavering between two opinions. But even stronger, it means to be “twospirited” and this, we know, cannot be! In any given moment, we are either in the flesh or in the Spirit (Rom. 8:5). We are for God, or we oppose Him. Moses asked, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” (Ex. 32:26). Joshua incited his generation to “Choose … this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15). Choose once for all, choose daily, and choose moment by moment. —Eunice Free

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side; Saviour, we are Thine! —F. Havergal

Exodus 35:1-35; Psalms 87:1-88:18; Acts 21:1-16

Aquila and Priscilla. Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 16:19

This delightful married couple were united in love. They were both believers who loved their Lord and Saviour. In this they were equally yoked together. They loved one another as shown in all six mentions of their names — they are never apart. They loved the Word of God and were able to use it helpfully in instructing Apollos. They loved the people of God and were prepared to lay down their “neck” for the Apostle Paul’s sake (Rom. 16:4). Finally, they loved
the work of God and used their home for the local gathering of Christians. Their marriage beautifully reflected the love between Christ and His church. – Clark Logan

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. —John Fawcett