Choice Gleanings

2 Samuel 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Galatians 4:21-5:9

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2:14 NKJV

The epistle of James can be hard to understand if we do not pay close attention to the context of his words. James isn’t saying we need to work for salvation but that genuine faith in Christ will naturally produce works. If the Holy Spirit indwells us, there will be good works. So today, let us first thank God that He accomplished a finished work for us on the cross. And let us also be thankful that God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us do good works that will
reflect what He has done for us. —Caleb Riordan

Are you serving Jesus, as you onward go?
Are you leading others, Christ the Lord to know?  —J. Clements

2 Samuel 18:1-19:8; Jeremiah 2:1-3:5; Galatians 4:1-20

Rebekah lifted up her eyes … said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant … said, It is my master. Genesis 24:64-65

For Rebekah, the long journey through the barren desert with the servant was coming to an end, and she would now be united with her bridegroom, Isaac. So it is with ourselves. Our wilderness journey will soon be over, and we will be united with our heavenly Bridegroom, who loved us and gave Himself for us. —Willie H. Burnett

O the blessed joy of meeting, all the desert past;
O the wondrous words of greeting, He will speak at last!
He and I together entering, those bright courts above;
He and I together sharing, all the Father’s love.  —P. Gerhardt Tersteegen

2 Samuel 16:1-17:29; Jeremiah 1:1-19; Galatians 3:15-29

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

Sometimes we feel that the Lord is not hearing us when we lift up our hearts to Him. Unconfessed sin could be the issue and our faltering prayer life reveals that we cannot hide it from Him. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18). Paul exhorts us to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). Troubled fellowship with the Lord is painful. Beware that no unconfessed sin comes between us and God. —K. C. Ung

If in my heart I sin regard, my prayer He will not hear;
But, truly, God has heard my voice, my prayer has reached His ear. —The Psalter

2 Samuel 15:1-37; Zephaniah 3:1-20; Galatians 3:1-14

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family and from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 NKJV

Following God often takes the Christian out of their “comfort zone” and can be frightening. But the rewards are exceptional and eternal. Abraham left his country, his friends, and family to follow God’s call to him. Note that when God told him to go, He didn’t immediately say where. Rather, He told Abram to go “to a land that I will show you.” So Abram started a journey to a destination that still wasn’t revealed. What faith! Where is God calling you? —Sid Halsband

Where He leads I’ll follow; follow all the way.
Where He leads I’ll follow; follow Jesus ev’ry day. —W. A. Ogden

2 Samuel 14:1-33; Zephaniah 2:1-15; Galatians 2:1-21

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Luke 12:20
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

“But God”, highlights divine intervention in changing a situation. Sadly, for the rich man, it was to terminate a life of self-occupation, material gain, and thoughtlessness towards God. How lovely, though, is divine intervention to meet our need as sinners! The work of our Lord Jesus transforms life now and our destiny in eternity. As God has intervened to save us, so too He can intervene to sustain us in every situation we face. —Philip A. Kaye

The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed? —Anna L. Waring

2 Samuel 13:1-39; Zephaniah 1:1-18; Galatians 1:1-24

And all the people shouted … God save the king. 1 Samuel 10:24

A royal biographer listed the characteristics he expected to be evident in a monarch: sensitive, sensible, caring, thoughtful, hardworking, passionate, and committed. These were all evident in He who was born “King of the Jews”. Other features qualified Him to be their rightful king: born of the royal line, born in the right town, “a prophet mighty in deed and word”, holy, wise, and true. These attributes seemed to escape Jewish thinking. What think ye of Christ? Highly enough to crown Him Lord of your life? —Brian Powlesland

What kind of man is this, that died in agony?
He who had done no wrong was crucified for me.
What kind of man is this, who laid aside His throne,
That I may know the love of God? —Bryn & Sally Haworth

2 Samuel 12:1-31; Habakkuk 3:1-19; Romans 16:1-27

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. Luke 7:13

Others carried the bier, but the widow woman was carrying a heavier burden. Her only son had died. We can imagine her sorrow. There was the impending loneliness in her heart at the loss of companionship. There was insecurity in her mind as she saw her only means of support being buried with her son. There were many who could commiserate with her in her pain but none who could solve her problem. But wait! Another enters the scene. And His power conquers death. In like manner, He comforts His people and He alone is the cure for the complexities of life. —Lloyd Cain

While all that borrows life from Thee, is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that we can be, Thou God, art present there. —I. Watts

2 Samuel 10:1-11:27; Habakkuk 2:1-20; Romans 15:14-33

Peter answered and said … let us make … Mark 9:5

In the midst of this other-worldly scene Christ, Moses, and Elijah spoke with each other. What a conversation it must have been. Yet Peter felt that he must also say something, along with suggesting that they embark on a small building program! The Father was listening and responded, “This is my beloved Son … hear ye him.” Like Peter, how prone we are to focusing on ourselves rather than Christ; to talking instead of listening; to planning instead of praying; and to action rather than stillness. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.” (Rev. 2:7). —Michael McKillen

Jesus the name I love so well, no saint on earth, its worth can tell;
It bids my trembling heart rejoice; it dries each rising tear;
It tells me, in a “still small voice” to trust and never fear. —F. Whitfield

2 Samuel 8:1-9:13; Habakkuk 1:1-17; Romans 14:19-15:13

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness … Psalm 23:3

It is good from time to time to stop and consider the path we are taking. Are we living in accordance with God’s Word? Are we pleasing Him? We would never want our path to become a rut. Our goal should be to walk with our good Shepherd along the paths of righteousness, rather than turning aside into ways of the world. Joseph strove for righteousness and thereby established his way (Gen. 39:9-10) and so should we. —Pete Smith

There is a path that leads to God; all others go astray;
Though narrow; pleasant is the road, and Christians love the way.—J. Taylor

2 Samuel 7:1-29; Nahum 2:1-3:19; Romans 14:1-18

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged. Proverbs 16:6

At Calvary, God’s mercy and truth procured our forgiveness and justification. Where would we be without mercy and truth? Through them, we have fellowship with God, are empowered by the indwelling Spirit, and are destined for eternal likeness to our Saviour. Proverbs, reminds us that indebtedness to mercy and truth must define our character too. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee” (Prov. 3:3). It’s to be written on our heart. Mercy and truth enrich those who “devise good” (Prov. 14:22), defining our service. “Mercy and truth preserve the king” (Prov. 20:28),  strengthening his throne. It is our preservation and strength. —David W. Oliver

Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe. —Robert Murray McCheyne