Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 20; Jeremiah 4:3-31; Galatians 5:10-26

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? Rev. 15:4
…we rest on thee, and in thy name we go… 2 Chronicles 14:11

Whenever we gather in His name, we testify to His worthiness to be in the centre. When we truly appreciate His worth and with due reverence, glorify His name, we become worshippers. That leads to a willingness to go in His name with the gospel, trusting only Him, and engaging in spiritual warfare. —Pete Smith

Thy Name we bless, Lord Jesus!
That name all names excelling:
How great Thy love, all praise above,
Should every tongue be telling. —Samuel Tregelles

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 19:9-43; Jeremiah 3:6 to 4:2; Gal. 4:21 to 5:9

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? John 18:38
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:4

Hollywood, the news media and most educational institutions have tried to sell the idea that we must be tolerant of what they define as truth. Their philosophy of “moral relativism” paints believers as intolerant bigots. Let us not be duped by the lies of the god of this world. Jesus Christ is the truth! He is the only One that can change lives. His message is the only one that brings peace and forgiveness. The world will be tolerant of everything but that! —Sid Halsband

Faint not, Christian! Though in rage, Satan doth thy soul engage;
Take thee faith’s anointed shield, bear it to the battle-field. —James Evans

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Sam. 18 to 19:8; Jeremiah 2 to 3:5; Gal. 4:1-20

Giving thanks unto the Father…Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness… Colossians 1:12-13

While in Israel our guide introduced us to a plant that has an affinity for salt. Absorbing salt from the earth transforms it and also gives its leaves a salty taste. Through our new birth, God implanted within us a new nature with a desire for His Son. This enables us to partake of His divine nature that permanently indwells us (1 John 3:9). Feeding upon Christ through His Word empowers us to victory over sin, gradually molding us into His image. As the plant, so we become like what we eat. Our regeneration gives us both the desire and the power to please Him (Phil. 2:13). —George Ferrier

Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion, for more than conqu’rors we are!
—Helen Howarth Lemmel

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 16-17; Jeremiah 1; Galatians 3:15-29

At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee… Psalm 119:62
I call to remembrance my song in the night… Psalm 77:6
[He] giveth songs in the night. Job 35:10
At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises… Acts 16:25

Whether a literal hour of the night or a figurative time of darkness and distress, our Lord gives us “songs in the night“. We are to be a praising people even though sometimes we sing through our tears. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Ps. 107:2). —Wm. H. Gustafson

I have a song I love to sing, since I have been redeemed;
Of my Redeemer, Saviour King, since I have been redeemed.
—E. Excell

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 15; Zephaniah 3; Galatians 3:1-14

Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth…Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit… Isaiah 42:10-11

If we were to bend our ear and listen to the sounds that emanate from this world, what would we hear? Probably one long groan. Sin has ruined this world and ruined lives. But as we look at today’s verse, we can rejoice. A new song is coming and at the centre of it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Where will this song be sung? Our verse tells us in the villages of Kedar. Where is Kedar today? It is a Muslim nation. One day this song of the Lord Jesus Christ will be sung everywhere, even in the villages of Kedar. —Paul Robertson

Sing to the Lord a joyful song, lift up your hearts, your voices raise;
To us His gracious gifts belong, to Him our songs of love and praise.
—John S. B. Monsell

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 14; Zephaniah 2; Galatians 2

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. – 2 Corinthians 8:2

In Scripture joy is often associated with affliction and trials. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that…ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13). “Looking unto Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2). Are trials your portion? Rejoice! Your future is glorious. —D. Pickup

While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh.
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory! —E. Hewitt

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 13; Zephaniah 1; Galatians 1

But continue thou in the things which thou has learned. – 2 Timothy 3:14

Paul was one of the primary influences in Timothy’s life. A critical one, to be sure, even as significant as his mother and grandmother (see the next verse). We may be only one of many influences in other people’s lives, but an influence nonetheless—for good or ill. We need to live consistently with the truth of God as found in the Scriptures. We need to be obedient to God and exemplary to others. —N. C. Funston

I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends without delay;
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heavenly way. —Palmer Hartsough

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 12; Habakkuk 3; Romans 16

For the Lord most high is terrible [awesome]; he is a great King over all the earth…God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Ps. 47:2, 8

The sons of Korah approached God in fear and trembling, realizing He was the Lord most high, sitting upon the throne of His holiness. How can we sinners approach such a holy, all powerful God today? Only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13). What a privilege we have to call this God of all the universe, simply “Our Father which art in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). We can only bow in humility, wonder and worship as we meditate on this incredible truth and draw near to Him in utter dependence on the precious blood of His own blessed Son. —David Croudace

Jesus, the sinner’s Friend, we hide ourselves in Thee;
God looks upon Thy sprinkled blood, it is our only plea. —C. Wesley

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 10-11; Habakkuk 2; Romans 15:14-33

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song of Solomon 2:4

These words acquire a special significance when we view them as portraying figuratively what God has done spiritually for each believer. Our salvation is rooted solidly in what God, in grace, has done for us. Our acceptance in “the banqueting house” is entirely God’s doing. His grace provided all, even though the cost was nothing less than the death of His Son. The “banner over us” guarantees that we are all eternally secure, for His love will never end! —George Hall

O, I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine;
He brings a poor, vile sinner into His house of wine;
I stand upon His merit, I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s land. —A. R. Cousin

DAILY?READINGS: 2 Samuel 8-9; Habakkuk 1; Romans 14:19 to 15:13

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Ps. 90:1

As Moses traveled through the desert, he was comforted to know that his true home was in the Lord. Likewise, believers today have a dwelling place in Him as they traverse an ever-changing, decaying world. Christ promised to prepare an abode in the Father’s house for His people (John 14:2-3) and to make a dwelling place by the Spirit within His people on earth (v. 23). Believers are not alone. He lives within them and they are going to heaven for unfettered enjoyment of the triune God. —K. R. Keyser

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing;
We rest on Thee and in Thy name we go. —E. G. Cherry