Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 49; Psalms 28-29; Matt. 27:1-26

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.  Colossians 4:2

Prayer is vital to the Christian life. Every ministry, endeavour, and decision ought to be brought to the Lord in order to receive His guidance. The New King James Version renders the opening phrase “Continue earnestly”. It demands time and zeal and necessitates thanksgiving for all that God has done in the past as well as His future labours. His servants on the front lines of evangelism, church planting, foreign missions and other public activities require prayer. Saints’ interactions in the assembly also need supplication. All believers must pray, for the work is great and the time is short. —K. R. Keyser

Boldly the heart and voice we raise, His blood, His name, our plea;
Assured our prayers and songs of praise ascend by Christ to Thee.—J. Deck

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 47:28 to 48:22; Psalms 26-27; Matt. 26:57-75

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

How much do we fulfill this proverb? Can we commit everything that we do and think to the Lord each day, or are there things that would make us cringe if the Lord were to walk into the room? What about the TV programmes we see and the magazines we read? Do they exalt the Lord or honour Him in any way at all? David prayed that the Lord would help him to walk within his house with a perfect heart and have no wicked thing before his eyes. —G. Frear

Jesus, ’tis my aim divine, hence to have no will but Thine,
Let me covenant with Thee, Thine for evermore to be:
This my prayer, and this alone, Saviour, let Thy will be done!
—O. Winslow

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 46 to 47:27; Psalm 25; Matt. 26:31-56

…and all the widows stood by him [Peter] weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. Acts 9:39

For more than 2,000 years, the name of Dorcas and her loving service has been remembered. The challenges of a thriving business were second to Dorcas’ loving care of the widows in her church fellowship. What will believers in Christ share with each other about your life and mine? Of Enoch’s life it was said, “…he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). May we too. —Arnot P. McIntee

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary,
I know my Lord expects the best from me. —Edwin Young

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 45; Psalms 23-24; Matt. 26:1-30

Thanks [grace] be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Cor. 9:15

In this chapter, Paul had been writing to the Corinthians regarding the grace of giving. Finally he sums it all up with the greatest Giver and the greatest gift! In summarizing the Giver and the gift, he reaches for a superlative but finds himself struggling for the right language to express the inexpressible! The gift is so incomprehensible, that we must stand back in awe and simply prostrate our hearts in worship in His holy presence. May true worship flow from our beings as we worship this day. —Jim Comte

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

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 44; Psalm 22; Matt. 25:31-46

…when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Jeremiah 36:23

With this reckless act, King Jehudi thought he had rid himself of the Lord’s words. Fire is just one of the means that man has used over the centuries, in his rebellious attempts to rid himself of God’s Word. Systematically, methodically, consistently, energetically…he has failed. The famous atheist Francois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire) was once asked why he wouldn’t just leave the Bible alone. “Because it won’t leave me alone”, was his reply. Like the bush encountered by Moses, they can burn it, but it will not be consumed. —Rick Morse

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted, ‘mid the raging storms of time;
It’s truth by none ever was refuted, and destroy it none ever can.—Lillenas

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 43; Psalms 20-21; Matt. 25:1-30

O Lord…revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2

Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 (NKJV)

Here is a cry for revival and a request for mercy. When it comes down to it, who are we to deserve God’s mercy? We deserve far less than what we receive. But just as the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle was covered by the mercy seat, so too God’s mercy comes between God’s holiness and that which speaks to our condemnation, the Ten Commandments contained in the ark. What a debt we owe and what reason for revival! —Mark Kolchin

The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen, and never was forfeited yet.
—Augustus Toplady

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 41:50 to 42:38; Psalm 19; Matt. 24:29-51

That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God. Psalm 67:2-3

This is a timeless mission statement for the believer. In it we have three concentric circles. It starts with the earth—God’s creation, followed by the nations—those lines drawn by men, where culture and history rule. Last, but certainly not least, we have the peoples, the souls for whom Christ died. While the first two circles state the scope of God’s work, the last circle speaks of its specificity. God is interested in people knowing and praising Him. —N. C. Funston

We’ve a Saviour to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow now hath trod,
That all the world’s great peoples,
Might come to the truth of God. —H. Ernest Nichol

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 41:1-49; Psalm 18:30-50; Matt. 24:1-28

And it came to pass, when the vessels were full…the oil stayed.
2 Kings 4:6

As Elisha had commanded, the widow woman borrowed empty vessels and began to pour out the oil from the one pot of oil she had. The supply of oil continued until the last pot was filled. Oil is a common symbol of the Holy Spirit and we learn here that the Spirit will fill us to the extent that we make ourselves available to Him. This was the power behind the early apostles—deemed ignorant and unlearned men—that produced outstanding results. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. May we too surrender ourselves entirely to Him and know the same blessing. —W. H. Burnett

O fill me with Thy fullness Lord, until my very heart o’erflow,
In kindling thought, and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
—Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: Gen. 40; Psalm 18:1-29; Matt. 23

…God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness… Exodus 34:6

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Psalm 63:6-7

It is easy to suffer from spiritual amnesia. We forget the power of prayer. We forget that with every temptation there is a way of escape. We forget God’s grace is sufficient for every challenge, however burdensome and unexpected the trial may be. But when we remember Him again, we find joy in the shadow of His wings. —Shane Johnson

Remember Christ, our Saviour, who paid the debts you owed,
To God the heavenly Father, and to you mercy showed. —R. Smith