Category: Uncategorised

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 19; Isaiah 37:8-38; 1 Corinthians 15:1-34

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:31

Glorying or boasting is a part of our fleshly nature. We like to talk about ourselves, what we know and have accomplished. When it comes to being saved, we have nothing of ourselves to glory in. God saves us by His grace based on what Christ did for us (Rom. 5:8). He then works this salvation in us (Phil. 2:13) and He will finish that work on us when He conforms us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). It is good that He does it all because we are not able. We do the trusting. He does the work. Our only glory is in Him. All praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. —Harold G. Smith

All praise to Him who reigns above, in majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die, that He might man redeem.—W. Clark

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 17-18; Isaiah 36 to 37:7; 1 Corinthians 14

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

The old English root from which we get worry means “to strangle”. Worry does just that. It can “strangle” us to the point where we lose hope and wallow in despair. Worry robs us of our joy, peace and contentment. It pulls us in opposite directions—hope pulling one way, fear pulling the other way. This happens in our lives when we fail to give our problems to the Lord and leave them there. May we learn to roll all our care and anxieties upon the Lord, for He does care (1 Pet. 5:7). —Jim Comte

Is there a heart o’er bound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care? Come to the cross, each burden bearing; all your anxiety—leave it there.
—Edward H. Joy

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 16; Isaiah 35; 1 Corinthians 13

…In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength… Isaiah 30:15

Have you learned the importance of having a quiet time? Time spent each morning or evening with the Lord in reading His Word and prayer? Three things are essential to make this a spiritual practice in your life. A plan, a time, and a place. Start with a reading plan to follow such as the reading plan on the Choice Gleanings calendar. As they say, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. Then, set aside time each day and choose a quiet, private place. Remember, if you don’t take time, it won’t take place. —Rex Trogdon

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

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 14-15; Isaiah 34; 1 Corinthians 12

I will bless the Lord at all times…The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. – Psalm 34:1, 18

David wrote this after escaping Abimelech by feigning insanity. Yet, he does not boast in his resourceful scheming, but in how God preserved his life. Hamilton Smith writes: “The godly man blesses the Lord, boasts in the Lord, and exalts the Lord, and does so at all times. It is easy to praise the Lord when circumstances are favourable. To bless the Lord at all times is an experience that can only be known by the saint with a broken and a humble heart”. Suffering is unavoidable, but David reminds us that the Lord attends to the broken-hearted. —W. A. H.

At all times praise the Lord; His promises are sure;
What if thou doubt? His steadfast Word unchanging shall endure.
—John S. How­son

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 13; Isaiah 33; 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Let your moderation be known unto all men… Philippians 4:5

The word moderation is variously translated “gentleness”, “forbearance”, “yieldingness” or “sweet reasonableness”. The same root word is rendered “clemency” (Acts 24:4), “patient” (1 Tim. 3:3) and “gentleness” (2 Cor. 10:1). The Greek scholar A. T. Robertson has said of this virtue: “Courtesy is not far from the true idea. It is graciousness with strength and poise of character.” Does this gentleness characterize you and me? And take note that it extends not only to our fellow believers, but to all insofar as possible. —W. Ross Rainey

Saviour, where’er my path may lead, help me Thy will to know.
May it ever be my steadfast creed, Thy gentleness to show.
—W. R. R.

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 11:29 to 12:15; Isaiah 32; 1 Cor. 10:14 to 11:1

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel… – Genesis 35:2-3

Here is the secret of personal revival—turning away from the things that bring us down and returning to the high standard that we once held. Like Jacob and his family it means putting away our idols, purifying our hearts and changing our way of life. Once that is done, we too will be able to arise and go back to Bethel, the place of our spiritual beginning. —Mark Kolchin

God is here! Oh, then, believing, bring to Him our one desire,
That His love may now be kindled, till its flame each heart inspire.
—James Black

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 10:6 to 11:28; Isaiah 31; 1 Cor. 9:24 to 10:13

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him… Revelation 1:7

…and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62

It is terrible when one dies under wrongful accusation. Yet that is how the Saviour died! The last Israel saw of Him, He was nailed to a cross. What a shock it will be to them when their Messiah returns bearing the marks of Golgotha! Then He will vindicate His Name and validate His claim. “The Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). How we long for that day.
—Drew Craig

Some golden daybreak Jesus will come,
He’ll shout the victory! Break through the blue!
Some golden daybreak for me, for you. —C. A. Blackmore

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 9 to 10:5; Isaiah 30; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Daniel 7:27

The future prospect for God’s people is magnificent! Having been presented “holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Col 1:22), we are then promoted to rule in accordance with our faithfulness shown in this life. Isn’t that worth every measure of consecration we can strive for? Will any good and faithful servant have regrets for temporal ambitions set aside? Do we even need to ask? —Rick Morse

Firstfruits of Thy new creation; faithful, holy, may we be,
Joyful in Thy full salvation, more and more conformed to Thee.
—Charles Wesley

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 8; Isaiah 29; 1 Corinthians 8

And it was revealed unto him [Simeon] by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Luke 2:26

What a promise! Every morning Simeon could think, “I will not die today unless I see Christ first.” Beloved believer, our promise is also special and just as sure. When we die, we will see the Lord’s Christ. Paul said, to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord (2. Cor 5:8). Do you claim the promise? Does it thrill your heart? It most surely should. —Ken Gross

Face to face with Christ my Saviour, face to face what will it be;
When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me.
—Carrie E. Breck

DAILY?READINGS: Judges 7; Isaiah 28; 1 Corinthians 7

…you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. Ezekiel 36:36 (NKJV)

The city of Portland, Maine, has the motto “Resurgam”. It means “I will rise again” and is testament to the fact that the city, though destroyed by fire on four occasions has each time been rebuilt. Though Jewish and Roman authorities thought they had destroyed the Lord Jesus, He rose again and has been building His church ever since. What a privilege to be workers together with God in this work. What a challenge to serve the living Saviour. —Brian Powlesland

It is not for me to be seeking my bliss,
And building my hopes in a region like this;
I look for a city which hands have not piled;
I pant for a country by sin undefiled. —Henry F. Lyte