Choice Gleanings

Numbers 16:1-40; Proverbs 13:1-25; 1 Peter 5:1-14

The Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23 NKJV

Praying that souls will be saved is consistent with God’s heart (2 Peter 3:9). Do we also pray for additional worshippers? That’s why the weary Saviour sat by Sychar’s well. That’s why Nicodemus heard, “You must be born again.” Whether female or male, religious or rejected by the religious, immoral or moral, all are candidates.
God’s grace produces worship in spirit (made spiritually alive) and truth (not empty repetition). John concludes his Gospel with Thomas’ touching worship, “My Lord and my God”! The Father values our worship. Let us aim for passion and excellence in worship now, until we worship eternally. — David W. Oliver

Jesus, our Lord, with what joy we adore Thee.
Lifting our praise to Thyself on the throne!  —H. Champney

Numbers 15:1-41; Proverbs 12:1-28; 1 Peter 4:1-19

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17

One day my wife and I were on a walk. It was one of those days when I felt being in a wheelchair was so unfair. Why did the Lord allow this disease to enter my body so many years ago? Just then we came to another wheelchair user. He had no companion and was so paralyzed that his electric wheelchair was controlled by a device steered with his mouth. The Spirit reminded me of the above verse. Ashamed, I confessed my sin of ingratitude and was glad that the Lord makes no mistakes. —Sid Halsband

Clouds and darkness round about Thee,
For a season veil Thy face;
Still, I trust and cannot doubt Thee;
Jesus! Full of truth and grace. —Charlotte Elliot

Numbers 14:1-45; Proverbs 11:1-31; 1 Peter 3:1-22

The kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote…In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: The king of Jericho, one…king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one. Joshua 12:7-9, 24

Facing challenging circumstances and hostile enemies Israel progressively appropriated God’s promises. Each city had one authority, who was proven powerless by the Lord of Hosts. Every spiritual enemy we face has one authority, Satan, whose head was crushed at Calvary and he remains powerless to prevent those who stand with the Lord from appropriating His promises. —David J. Reed

Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world. —John Yates

Numbers 12:1-13:33; Proverbs 10:1-32; 1 Peter 2:1-25

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Psalm 73:17

The psalmist was distraught as he viewed the prosperity of evildoers. His perspective changed when he spent time in the Lord’s presence and saw their peril. He saw that the wicked are in a slippery place and headed for destruction and desolation. The writer also recognized that we as believers have limitless wealth. He recounts that through our salvation, we have the presence of God with us in life and the prospect of us in His presence in eternity (vv. 23-24). The wicked may have riches here but we have an eternal relationship with God. —Gary McBride

Take the world, but give me Jesus; sweetest comfort of my soul;
With my Saviour watching o’er me, I can sing tho billows roll.  —Fanny Crosby

Numbers 11:4-35; Proverbs 9:1-18; 1 Peter 1:1-25

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. Jeremiah 32:17

We need to look beyond what is happening now and focus on what God has promised for the future. Things may seem impossible now, but then we will be affirmed that “with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). Our faith is not in what is going to happen, but in the God who makes things happen. He worked through His people in the past, and He will work through you now, even in difficult days. With faith in the wisdom and power of God, declare
openly your confidence in the future. God knows better than we do, what is happening around us, and why. —Gaius C. Goff

Crown Him as your Captain in temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you in its light and power. —Caroline Noel

Numbers 10:11-11:3; Proverbs 8:1-36; Jude

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. Psalm 72:18-19

He only does wondrous things! As we contemplate the things that God has done for us, our hearts should be filled with praise and gratitude. We cannot praise Him too much or give Him too much glory. Everything that God does is perfection, and when He rules on earth, all will be at peace. How we long for that day! —Gwenyth Frear

As long as sun and moon endure,
May people know, Your peace so pure.
Blessed be the God of heaven,
And His wondrous name for e’er, Amen! —G.F.

Numbers 9:1-10:10; Proverbs 6:20-7:27; Mark 16:1-20

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding. 1 Kings 4:29

The widely watched funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II heard tributes from many leaders. One tribute came from the leader of the Church of Scotland who said in his homily, “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth began her reign, like King Solomon, by asking for wisdom, something that she demonstrated in large measure”. The king of Tyre said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel…who [gave] to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding” (2 Chron. 2:12). To be wise is to be prudent and demonstrate understanding , characteristics to be admired and sought after.—Brian Powlesland

We have no wealth or learning; what shall we children bring?
We’ll bring Him hearts that love Him; we’ll bring Him thankful praise,
And young souls meekly striving, to walk in holy ways:
And these shall be our treasures, we offer to the King. —Unknown

Numbers 8:1-26; Proverbs 5:1-6:19; Mark 15:24-47

And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. Isaiah 49:5

How could the Lord Jesus die to save a world that rejects Him? How could He suffer His own people’s repudiation without despairing? The Father’s unwavering approval of His beloved Son and the prophecy of His future restoration of the Israelite remnant strengthened Christ for obedience to the point of death on the cross (Matt. 3:17; Phil. 2:8). Truly, He shall everlastingly “be glorious in the eyes of the Lord”. —Keith R. Keyser

Love to miserable sinners, love unfathom’d, love to death, 
Was the only end and motive, to resign His gracious breath.  —William Williams

Numbers 7:1-89; Proverbs 4:1-27; Mark 15:1-23

[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:16

The Apostle Paul was very much a man of prayer. His work was anchored in a prayerful attitude of communion with the Lord. As we study his prayers and others in the Scriptures we find the focus is spiritual rather than material. Rarely are there requests for health,  wealth or even physical freedom and the words “Be with” are never used, as we so often do today. Jesus has promised to be with His people (Matt. 28:20) and so it seems a bit superfluous to ask the Lord to do what He has already promised to do. As someone has written, “All that matters may be brought before God, but we must always bring before God those things that matter most”. —Paul Young

Take time to be holy, speak oft with Thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word. —William D. Longstaff

Numbers 6:1-27; Proverbs 3:1-35; Mark 14:53-72

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15

I have a 100-year-old friend who faithfully gives Gospel tracts to people every day. According to God’s Word, he has beautiful feet. I long to have beautiful feet too. Do you? God gives us opportunities to share the Good News about His gift of salvation with people every day. I have often wondered where I would be if nobody had ever shared the truth with me. —Pam Hagey

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus—spread His praise from shore to shore;
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne.  —S. Trevor Francis