Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 22:1-23:9; Psalms 64:1 -65:13; Acts 12:1-25

In those days came John the Baptist…saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:1-2

John’s preaching concerned repentance and a subsequent baptism to prove that his “converts” meant what they said. John was an unusual man with no use for anything fine or fancy; a loner who grew up in the desert. John didn’t mince matters when he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptised. He called them serpents and demanded that they repent too. We too, should have the fruit of repentance in our lives. —G. Frear

There is a river, that flows from deep within;
There is a fountain, that frees the soul from sin;
Come to this water, there is a vast supply;
There is a river, that never shall run dry. —D. & M. Sapp

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 21:1-36; Psalms 62:1-63:11; Acts 11:19-30

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119:18

We have eyes but do we see? The physical eyes of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus were open but their spiritual “eyes were holden that they should not know him” (Luke 24:16). Our eyes may be open to
read God’s Word, but we fail to grasp the personal messages God is trying to pass on to us. We come away none the better because we fail to see. If this is so, pray David’s prayer above, and start all over again. —K. C. Ung

Open my eyes, that I may see,
Glimpses of truth, Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
That shall unclasp and set me free. —Clara H. Scott

DAILY READINGS: Exodus 20:1-26; Psalms 60-61; Acts 11:1-18

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. Acts 19:19

A drug dealer became a Christian. His marijuana was ready to harvest. Although of considerable monetary value he burnt his entire crop. Sadly today there are Christians who are involved in pornography, alcohol, wrong friendships and business deals, to name a few. What are you hanging on to that needs getting rid of? Decide today that with God’s help you will put things right. —Janet Fleming

God will not be mocked for we reap what we sow,
The seeds we are planting are what we will grow.
Get rid of wrong habits, of sin and misdeeds,
Or soon you will harvest a garden of weeds. —Janet Fleming

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 19; Psalms 58-59; Acts 10:24-48

And they told him all the words of Joseph…[and] the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Genesis 45:27

Jacob was old and his days were spent mourning his losses. Rachel was dead, he believed Joseph was too and God’s promises seemed as dry as the desert sand. His remaining comfort, Benjamin, had been whisked away in a time of famine and crisis (Gen. 43:14). Surely the end was near! But God used Jacob’s surrender of Benjamin to bring about a marvelous deliverance. God proved that circumstances don’t dictate our reality—He does. Jacob was revived, restored and renewed when his hope was in God alone. May this be our experience. —Deborah Manera

“God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” —Andrew Murray

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 18; Psalms 56-57; Acts 10:1-23

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith…a body hast thou prepared me: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Hebrews 10:5, 9

We are privileged here to enter into the eternal counsels of the divine—the Son speaking to the Father. This glimpse into heaven confirms His pre-existence before His birth. It also reveals His knowledge of the redemptive plan and His delight in fulfilling His Father’s will (Ps. 40:8). As one before has noted; “Bethlehem was the beginning of an earthly human story that was to bring infinite pleasure to God.” —Pete Smith

Faithful amidst unfaithfulness, midst darkness only light:
Thou didst Thy Father’s Name confess and in His will delight.
                                                                                            —James G. Deck

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 17; Psalm 55; Acts 9:32-43

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? Luke 22:64

Sinful men blindfolded the One who had repeatedly given sight to the blind. Then, after striking Him, asked the One who knew all things to say who had done it. He could have easily demonstrated His power but allowed men to exercise their blasphemy. His eventual response would be “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). His expressions of love and forgiveness led the centurion to “[glorify] God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). Today, we worship our Saviour. —Ken Gross

Crowned with thorns upon the tree, silent in Thine agony;
Dying, crushed beneath the load of the wrath and curse of God.
                                                                                                           —Guinness

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 16; Psalm 52-54; Acts 9:1-31

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Deut. 30:19

Man faces many choices in his lifetime. God warned Israel that to continue in sin would result in death, while obedience to God would bring blessing and life! The same warning echoes over the span of time to us today. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). To heed this warning is life. To ignore it, is certain death. Choose life and live! —E. V.

There is life for a look at the crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee;
Then look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.
                                                              —Miss A. M. Hull

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 15; Psalm 51; Acts 8:5-40

And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love). 1 Corinthians 13:13

1 Corinthians 13 demonstrates that whatever service, or sacrifices, we may render, if love is not the motivation, they are completely devoid of value. The apostle outlines the characteristics of genuine love, and concludes that love is the supreme virtue. We see this demonstrated in the church at Ephesus. Ephesus had much to commend it, yet the Lord says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love…I…will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Solemn words indeed that merit our consideration personally and corporately. —W. H. Burnett

Like shoreless seas, Thy love can know no bound; Thou lovest me!
Deep, vast, immense, unfathomed, Lord—profound. Lord I love Thee!
                                                                                                                       —E. C. Quine

DAILY?READINGS: Exodus 14:5-31; Psalms 49-50; Acts 7:30 to 8:4

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver. Eccl. 5:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10

The lure of more was part of the Devil’s strategy in the Garden of Eden and remains a part of our sinful flesh. Dissatisfaction, or the desire for more, is the pursuit of a happiness that does not originate with God. Once saved, we gradually learn that true happiness is total dependence on Him for everything. How slow we are to practice it. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other” (Gal. 5:17). “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” (Gal. 5:24). Soon our victory will not be temporary but eternal. —Vernon Markle

Satisfied with Thee, Lord Jesus, I am blest;
Peace which passeth understanding, on Thy breast.
                                                                                     —E. Milne