Choice Gleanings

Numbers 5:1-31; Proverbs 2:1-22; Mark 14:27-52

For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. 2 Samuel 14:14

A lovely garden in an Edinburgh suburb also contains a reminder of a dark time in Scotland’s history. Within it is the burial place of a victim of the Great Plague of 1645. A plaque bears the solemn inscription in Latin, “Mors patet; Hora latet” meaning “Death is sure; the hour obscure”. Preparing a will for the inevitability of death, which can happen at any time, is prudent. So is preparing to meet with your Creator. It is important to get right with God. Accept His terms for salvation which He offers through what Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross. —Brian Powlesland

Time is earnest, passing by; death is earnest, drawing nigh;
Sinner wilt thou trifling be? Time and death appeal to thee. —S. Dyer

Numbers 4:1-49; Proverbs 1:1-33; Mark 14:1-26

David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David … [and said] … as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike. 1 Samuel 30:21-24 NKJV

David’s actions foreshadow our King’s appreciation of service. David’s rewards were based on one’s service unto exhaustion, not on their accomplishments. When we are left with only strength to guard and pray, our King transforms such efforts into wonderful outcomes and they will eventually give rise to praise, glory and honour from Him (1 Peter 1:7) at His coming. —David J. Reed

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous pow’r
Flowing thro’ us, Thou canst use us, ev’ry day and eve’ry hour.  —Mary Maxwell

Numbers 3:1-51; Psalms 148:1-150:6; Mark 13:1-37

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:6.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rev. 22:21

The Old Testament ends with the word “curse.” The Greek translation of the Old Testament ends with verse 4 inserted as the last verse of the chapter. This subtle shift does not change the possibility and potential of God’s judgment. The New Testament ends with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For us, the curse is removed due to the fact that the Lord Jesus became a curse for us. The result is that we have received grace and have no fear of
judgment. —Gary McBride

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! —J. Johnston

Numbers 2:1-34; Psalms 146:1-147:20; Mark 12:18-44

Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Israel hath burned. Jeremiah 36:28

Bibles have been burned by the thousands throughout history, while various governments and educational institutions have systematically done all they can to keep God’s Word out of circulation. They continue to fail because His Word is settled forever in heaven and it cannot be undone by the whims of men. The Scriptures continue to be proclaimed and taught, with men and women responding to the Gospel in repentance and faith. Take heart, fellow ambassador, the battle is the Lord’s. —Rick Morse

Open Thou mine eyes, Lord, that I may behold,
In Thy Word rich treasures, better far than gold. —Alfred Gibbs

Numbers 1:1-54; Psalms 144:1-145:21; Mark 11:27-12:17

Jesus … commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calls thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:49-50

Notice that when Bartimaeus was called, he arose, “casting away his garment”. The Christian life is figuratively marked by putting off one garment and putting on another (Eph. 4:21-32). Bartimaeus illustrates for us this dramatic transformation. He was done with the old manner of life. Have we cast off the former things that were part of who we once were? —Lloyd Cain

And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
God has been merciful to me. —C. Elven

Leviticus 27:1-34; Psalms 142:1-143:12; Mark 11:1-26

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body … whether it be good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

Following our arrival in heaven, we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This assize could be compared to the ancient Greek games where athletes stood before the judges and received awards for their performance. So also the Judgment Seat of Christ has nothing to do with our sins, and there is no thought of penal consequences, but rather it is to review our service for the Lord following our salvation, and rewards shall be given or
denied accordingly. —Willie H. Burnett

Faithful to Him, will He find us watching,
With our lamps all trimmed and bright? —Fanny Crosby

Leviticus 26:1-46; Psalm 140:1-141:10; Mark 10:32-52

There is none to help. Psalm 22:11

In a time of trial, God’s children have often stood alone. Their only comfort has been that God was near, a shelter in the storm. But not so at Calvary. Before our Lord’s crucifixion, Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and the disciples forsook Him. However, when the Saviour hung upon the cross and darkness fell, a poignant cry was heard that went unanswered: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). This must have been the heaviest stroke of all. He was abandoned and totally alone. May we never forget all that He endured on our account. —Clark Logan

Alone, alone, He bore it all alone;
He gave Himself to save His own,
He suffered, bled and died alone, alone. —Ben H. Price

Leviticus 25:1-55; Psalm 139:1-24; Mark 10:1-31

Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Exodus 3:5
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith… Hebrews 10:22

What a contrast! At the burning bush God told Moses “Draw not nigh hither”. He wanted us to appreciate that God is holy. The New Testament, however, emphasizes that God is love. “Let us draw near…”. Why the change? “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). —Sid Halsband

As now to the cross we draw nigh;
Let us sing to the praise, of the God of all grace,
For the love that gave Jesus to die. —D. W. Whittle

Leviticus 24:1-23; Psalms 137:1-138:8; Mark 9:33-50

Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now … Ephesians 2:12-13

If the heights to which we have been raised, as recorded in Ephesians 1, are beyond our ability to grasp fully, so are the depths from which have been brought according to Ephesians 2. Without Christ we were lifeless; as aliens we were stateless; as strangers we were homeless; having no hope, we were hopeless, and without God we were godless. “But now”, just six letters, both in Greek and English, but what a transformation they express! Have you thanked God today for His saving grace? —Phil Coulson

O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace! —C. Wesley

Leviticus 23:23-44; Psalms 135:1-136:26; Mark 9:14-32

I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 NKJV

Medical malpractice is a serious issue. Sometimes it is caused by neglect, sometimes by recklessness, sometimes by intentional evil and can result in either civil or criminal penalties. How much more serious is pastoral malpractice! Those called to shepherd the flock of God will one day give an account as to how they led the souls entrusted to them (Heb. 13:17). The Lord promised backsliding Israel that in a coming day He would give them shepherds after His own heart. May the Lord grant His church today shepherds after His heart. —David Wilson

Fill me with the knowledge, of Your glorious will;
All Your own good pleasure, in my life fulfill. —Emily G. Crawford