Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 12; Jeremiah 21-22; Colossians 1:1-20

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. 1 Samuel 4:1

We would expect this verse to read “the word of God”. Israel needed to hear what God had to say. The last verse of the previous chapter sets us straight. “And all Israel…knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord” (1 Sam. 3:20). Samuel spoke forth the word of God. In a day when men’s ideas and opinions are so plentiful, may we be faithful to proclaim His Word and others be confident that what we say we got from Him. “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). —Ken Gross

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

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 11; Jeremiah 19-20; Philippians 4:2-23

Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. Judges 16:22

Samson made many mistakes. But when he disclosed his Nazarite vow to Delilah, it seemed that his spiritual decline was irreversible. Howbeit, amidst his suffering his strength gradually returned and at the end of his life he accomplished something for God that overshadowed all his other efforts. You may feel that you have failed the Lord to such an extent that you can never be used again. Rather than despair, accept forgiveness and endeavour to do something for the Lord which will eclipse all your mistakes. —Brian Russell

I feel that I am weak and prone to every sin,
But Thou, who giv’st to those who seek;
Wilt give me strength within. —Anne Bronte

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 10; Jeremiah 18; Philippians 3 to 4:1

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Romans 3:21-22

The cross vindicates the righteousness of God. It never sets it aside. By faith in the Lord Jesus, God’s righteousness is reckoned to our account. Not one iota of human merit can stand, as by grace through faith, the believer stands justified before the throne of God, gazing in adoration at the Lamb who sits there. —Mark Fenn

God’s righteousness is there proclaimed,
His mercy’s depths are known,
While to the full Thou hast maintained,
The glory of His throne. —Charles Andrew Coates

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 9; Jeremiah 17; Philippians 2:12-30

…keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. John 17:11

This glorious union is the result of Christ’s death. Through the cross, we have been made one with all the redeemed (1 Cor. 12:13). This oneness will never be broken as it depends on nothing in man to either make or maintain it. It depends on the work of Christ (John 19:30); the person of Christ (Heb. 13:8) and on the Word of God (Matt. 24:35). All are eternal and perfect and will never change. Thus our union in Christ will never change either. —Jim Pizzulli

Like a mighty army, moves the church of God;
Brothers we are treading, where the saints have trod;
We are not divided; all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. —Sabine Baring-Gould

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:31-66; Jer. 16; Philippians 1:21 to 2:11

For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his own glorious body… Philippians 3:20-21

The “great expectation” of the believer is the coming of the Lord Jesus and nothing can ever deter that hope. Paul, the visionary, is here looking beyond this life and its problems. He sees the glorious prospect of divine transformation, when this body of humiliation will be transformed like unto Christ’s own glorious body. Emancipation, liberation, transformation awaits the believer. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). —Jim Comte

There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come—
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye. —Jim Hill

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 8:1-30; Jeremiah 15; Philippians 1:1-20

And he [the blind man] said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. John 9:38

Martin Luther said that there were two kinds of believing—first, a believing about God which means acknowledging that what is said of Him is true. This faith is more a form of knowledge than of faith. There is, secondly, a believing in God which means that I put my trust in Him. I believe without any doubt that He will be and will do to me according to the things said of Him. Such faith, which throws itself upon God, whether in life or in death, alone makes a Christian. Have you cast yourself upon God and His Christ? —W. Ross Rainey

I simply take Him at His Word, I praise Him that my plea is heard,
And claim my answer from the Lord, “I take”—“He undertakes”.
—Albert B. Simpson

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 7; Jeremiah 14; Ephesians 6:10-24

…she [Jerusalem] remembereth not her last end… Lam. 1:9
…and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jeremiah 5:31

Backsliding Jerusalem was called upon to consider her future. God had planned her destiny, but if she missed it, what would be her end? My friend, God has a wonderful destiny for you too, but it is only to be found in Christ. If you come to Him your past life of failure can be forgiven and cleansed. Then with the new life of Christ dwelling in you, you will be enabled to fit into God’s marvelous plan for your life. If however you reject the Lord Jesus Christ, the same question comes to you, “What will you do in the end?” —David Croudace

Be in time, while the voice of Jesus calls you, be in time,
If in sin you longer wait you may find no open gate,
And your cry be just too late! Be in time. —Charles H. Mason

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 6; Jeremiah 13; Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9

…because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Jeremiah lived in a traumatic time for the city of Jerusalem. It had been invaded, its people killed and deported, the house of God destroyed and the city left in ruins. The remaining people were starving, confused and leaderless. Jeremiah relates all this in vivid detail in the book of Lamentations. Yet as time moves on he begins to see light flickering in the darkness—God is still full of compassion and faithfulness. It is good to remind ourselves of that fact when things go wrong in our lives. Let’s learn to trust the God of faithfulness. —Paul Young

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
—Thomas O. Chisholm

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 4-5; Jeremiah 12; Ephesians 5:1-21

And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Luke 3:14
Having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:8

Most people in the world today aren’t content with what they have. They are continually demanding more! Yet the Lord tells us that life is defined by more than food and raiment. He then turns our eyes to the birds and asks us to see with new eyes how our heavenly Father cares for them (Matt. 6:25-26). How much more will He care for us. So therefore, “Let your conversation [life] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). —Ken Gunnell

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures. — John Newton

DAILY?READINGS: 1 Kings 3; Jeremiah 11; Ephesians 4:17-32

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24
The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

The words “bare” and “laid” in these verses, introduce us to the subject of substitution. Our Saviour had to bear them before He could take them away. His death was sufficient to deal with the world’s sin as proclaimed by John the Baptist, ”the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The just for the unjust, the sinless for the sinful. He gave His riches for our poverty. His death for our life. Hallelujah what a Saviour! —Drew Craig

I hear the words of love, I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice, and I have peace with God. —Horatius Bonar