Choice Gleanings

2 Kings 3:1-27; Jeremiah 36:1-32; Hebrews 8:1-13

Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover … so I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver … Hosea 3:1-2 NKJV

Hosea’s wife Gomer went into a life of adultery, which eventually brought her to bankruptcy. In that culture, the only way to cancel the debt was to hope that selling everything would match what was owed. If it was more, slavery was the result. Hosea was told to go into the marketplace and enter into the bidding and buy Gomer back for himself. The Lord said the standard was “the love of the Lord for Israel”, as the nation was unfaithful to God. Oh how this reminds us of the price the Lord Jesus paid to redeem us from the marketplace of sin! —Gary McBride.

O blessed Lord, what hast Thou done! How vast a ransom paid!
Who could conceive, God’s only Son, upon the altar laid! —M. Peters

2 Kings 2:1-25; Jeremiah 35:1-19; Hebrews 7:1-28

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. John 14:1 NKJV
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6 NKJV

Trouble comes in all kinds of ways to everyone. Do not think you are the only one who has trouble. But the Lord tells us not to let trouble overwhelm us, but to trust Him in times of trouble. He does not abandon us at any time or in any circumstance. And He will save us not from trouble, but out of trouble. Tell the Lord about your trouble and wait for Him to answer you. —Brian Gunning

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer! —Joseph Scriven

2 Kings 1:1-18; Jeremiah 34:1-22; Hebrews 5:11-6:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Galatians 2:20

Peter urges that, as newborn babies crave milk from their mother, we should crave the pure milk of the Word of God that we might grow into a full experience of salvation (1 Pet. 2:2). He further says that we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). These are both essential, but perhaps most vital is what Paul says here, that we grow to understand that the true Christian life must be the very life of Christ lived in and through us. —Ray Jones

Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord, O, to be lost in Thee,
Oh, that it may be no more I, but Christ that lives in me. —Ada Whiddington

1 Kings 22:1-53; Jeremiah 33:1-26; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

They were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much … that place was called The Valley of Berachah (blessing) … his God gave him rest all around. 2 Chronicles 20:25-26, 30 NKJV

All of Judah was terrified in the face of the seemingly invincible enemy who had invaded their territory. Crucially, they sought the Lord (vv 3-4) and He brought them victory. But it was more than a victory. They were enriched (materially) by the experience. What had seemed destined to be a valley of death was transformed into a valley of blessing. Often we face insurmountable challenges only for the Lord to work through those circumstances so as to enrich our lives, bringing us blessing and peace. —Michael McKillen

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well. —F. Crosby

1 Kings 21:1-29; Jeremiah 32:26-44; Hebrews 4:1-13

Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:26 NKJV

The Christian life was never meant to be an easy fix to our health problems, financial problems, or family problems. A prosperity gospel produces shallow weak followers who only endure for a season. “These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time” (Mark 4:16-17). The right reason for following Christ is: I am a sinner and He is the Saviour. —Sid Halsband

Following Jesus, ever day by day,
Nothing can harm me when He leads the way. —Harry Vom Brauch

1 Kings 20:1-43; Jeremiah 32:1-25; Hebrews 3:1-19

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul had an infirmity and he pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him (2 Cor. 12:8). God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (v 9). We too can be overcome with illness and wonder why the Lord has allowed it to happen. Let Paul’s example and God’s answer to
him be a comfort to us today. —Rosemary J. Richardson

Saviour in sickness and in pain, be near to succour me,
My sinking spirit still sustain; to Thee I turn, to Thee!  —Unknown

1 Kings 19:1-21; Jeremiah 31:1-40; Hebrews 2:1-18

The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. Psalm 129:3
I gave my back to the smiters … Isaiah 50:6

The scourgers tore our Lord’s back as plowmen furrow a field. It is as if they delighted in their cruel labour! Samuel Pierce wrote, “What must the feelings of our Lord have been when they made such furrows on His back, that it was all furrowed and welted with such long wounds, that it was more like a plowed field than anything else.” Let us adore Him once more today and say with deepest gratitude, “with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). —Pete Smith

Saviour, we remember Thee! Thy deep woe and agony,
All Thy suffering on the tree: Saviour we adore Thee. —S. Francis

1 Kings 18:1-46; Jeremiah 30:1-24; Hebrews 1:1-14

You shall call his name Ishmael … Genesis 16:11 NKJV

Life’s memories can stir joy or disappointment. Their nature will depend on whether God controlled the situation or if we were acting on our own. God named Ishmael. It means “God hears”. Whenever Hagar heard it, she would remember God’s kindness in the wilderness, telling her, “The Lord has heard your affliction”. For Abram and Sarai,
“Ishmael” would remind them that, God hears, but that they hadn’t inquired of Him before they concocted their scheme to “help” Him provide an heir through Hagar. Taking our worries and wonderings to the God who hears, will make all the difference as to what kind of memories we make. —S. McEachern

Lord, we worship and adore Thee, for Thy rich, Thy matchless grace;
Perfect soon in joy before Thee, we shall see Thee face to face. —J. Hopkins

1 Kings 17:1-24; Jeremiah 29:1-32; Philemon 1:1-25

If anyone … thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue … this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27 NKJV

Evidence that I belong to Christ is not my faithful attendance at the local church. The Gospel’s transforming power must be seen and felt by my community. My words should be beautifully better than theirs. Deeds of lovingkindness to those unable to reciprocate will be normal, not a Christmas exception. The world’s thinking won’t taint my practices. God expects this of me. —Peter Ramsay

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!—Adelaide Pollard

1 Kings 15:33-16:34; Jeremiah 27:1-28:17; Colossians 4:2-18

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Anxiety and worry change nothing. Trusting the Lord, obeying Him, delighting in Him, and resting in Him are what changes me. Don’t worry about things you can do nothing about. Worry constantly debilitates. Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving will bring us into divine intimacy as we verbally and deliberately pass our worries over to Him. Then God’s peace will shed a wondrous light on things we don’t understand. —Gaius C. Goff

So I tell you, do not worry; worry won’t command His power.
Which of you by constant fretting, adds to life a single hour?  —Susan H. Peterson